Ancient Revolutions

[RGacky3]

Just as an encouraging thought, what are some examples of ancient, Pre-Industrial Revolution popular revolts or Uprisings.

The earliest I can think of perhaps is the biblical account of the Isrealites leaving Eygpt as slaves.

The Spartacus Slave rebellion against Rome is a famous example, and stands out a lot.

Vercingetorix revolt against the Roman Empire, Queen Boudicas revolt against the Roman Empire. The Jewist Revolt against the Roman Empire (there were a couple, the Jews were feisty people :P).

THe peasants revolt in England where the Tower of London was attacked.

Lets see, any more? Any interesting tid bits about these Ancient rebellions?

[Resistencia]

I think you could add the 80 years war to that too (the Dutch uprising against their Spanish oppressors). Although, this uprising was more a religious uprising (Dutch = protestant, Spanish = Catholic)

[manic expression]

Peasant revolts were far from uncommon in ancient times. The Gauls revolted against the Romans at least once, the Ionian colonies tried to reject Persian dominance, the Persians rose up against the Romans (in rebellious fashion, led by Cyprus IIRC); there are many other examples. Also, China has seen a multitude of rebellions and revolts and revolutions.

[Cryotank Screams]

The three Servile wars (which included the rebellion of Spartacus) of Rome immediately come to mind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servile_Wars

Also the Haiti revolution led by François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_revolution
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Dessalines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_L%27Ouverture

Here is a long list of histories rebellions and revolutions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_revol..._and_rebellions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_revolutions_and_rebellions)

[Severian]

There were a lot of revolts and political overturns in Athenian history also. Conflicts among the different classes of free citizens, mostly.

There were many in Chinese history. More than one dynasty was overthrown by a peasant revolt - the Ming Dynasty was founded by the leader of one.

But which of the revolts in this thread were revolutions, leading to a fundamental social and economic transformation, is another question....

[Fawkes]

The Celts in Britain rose up against the Romans under Boudicca at around 60 C.E. Unfortunately, about 80,000 Celts were slaughtered, including Boudicca herself, by the Romans due to inferior tactics on the Celtic side even though the Celts had anywhere between 100,000 and 230,000 men and the Romans only had 10,000. Ironically, it was due to superior military technology that the Celts lost.

[Cryotank Screams]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2007 11:04 pm
including Boudicca herself,
Actually it is mystery what happened to Boudica after the battle, but it is known she wasn't killed in the battle, and most scholars think that she probably killed herself after seeing the massive causalities and death.

[Cryotank Screams]

Originally posted by [email protected] 14, 2007 11:00 pm
But which of the revolts in this thread were revolutions, leading to a fundamental social and economic transformation, is another question....
I think this would be rather interesting to discuss in detail, and examine the various revolutions and rebellions, and how they effected the people before and after, what changes occurred, what happened economically, what happened in the class struggles, and such.

[Fawkes]

Originally posted by Cryotank Screams+February 14, 2007 10:12 pm--> (Cryotank Screams @ February 14, 2007 10:12 pm)
[email protected] 14, 2007 11:04 pm
including Boudicca herself,
Actually it is mystery what happened to Boudica after the battle, but it is known she wasn't killed in the battle, and most scholars think that she probably killed herself after seeing the massive causalities and death. [/b]
You're right, I somehow got her mixed up with Cuchalainn.

[Janus]

There were countless peasant revolts in China from the uprising that brought Liu Bang aka Emperor Gao into power to the Taiping and Boxer rebellions of the late 19th century.

[bcbm]

The millenarian movements of the middle ages are extremely interesting if you're looking for revolutionary attempts at the transformation of society. Also the diggers and levellers.

[Fawkes]

Also, some of the campaigns launched by North and South American Indians against the Europeans are pretty interesting, though not really ancient.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 09:51 pm
Also, some of the campaigns launched by North and South American Indians against the Europeans are pretty interesting, though not really ancient.
They seem to be using ancient as "anything before the Ind Rev" so... I dunno.

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15, 2007 03:00 am
But which of the revolts in this thread were revolutions, leading to a fundamental social and economic transformation, is another question....
If you're looking for a revolution in the Marxist sense... well the best "Ancient" candidate is probably the collapse of the Roman slave society.

[Fawkes]

Originally posted by black coffee black metal+February 15, 2007 11:07 pm--> (black coffee black metal @ February 15, 2007 11:07 pm)
[email protected] 15, 2007 09:51 pm
Also, some of the campaigns launched by North and South American Indians against the Europeans are pretty interesting, though not really ancient.
They seem to be using ancient as "anything before the Ind Rev" so... I dunno. [/b]
Ancient, by definition of most most historians, is anything prior to the European Rennaisance.

[bcbm]

Originally posted by Fawkes+February 16, 2007 01:28 pm--> (Fawkes @ February 16, 2007 01:28 pm)
Originally posted by black coffee black [email protected] 15, 2007 11:07 pm

[email protected] 15, 2007 09:51 pm
Also, some of the campaigns launched by North and South American Indians against the Europeans are pretty interesting, though not really ancient.
They seem to be using ancient as "anything before the Ind Rev" so... I dunno.
Ancient, by definition of most most historians, is anything prior to the European Rennaisance. [/b]
I know, but I am saying this person is using it as I stated.

[Fawkes]

Originally posted by black coffee black metal+February 16, 2007 02:43 pm--> (black coffee black metal @ February 16, 2007 02:43 pm)
Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 01:28 pm

Originally posted by black coffee black [email protected] 15, 2007 11:07 pm

[email protected] 15, 2007 09:51 pm
Also, some of the campaigns launched by North and South American Indians against the Europeans are pretty interesting, though not really ancient.
They seem to be using ancient as "anything before the Ind Rev" so... I dunno.
Ancient, by definition of most most historians, is anything prior to the European Rennaisance.
I know, but I am saying this person is using it as I stated. [/b]
In that case, you could look at the American Revolution, particularly in the beginning when it was much more of a guerrilla war.

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16, 2007 07:28 pm
Ancient, by definition of most most historians, is anything prior to the European Rennaisance.
Actually in modern convention ancient history typically stretches until 500 CE or so when the Early Middle Ages begins. The fall of Rome is typically taken by Western scholars to mark the end of the "Ancient Era". The Renaissance would not begin until the Late Middle Ages (which followed the High Middle Ages).

[Whitten]

I suppose the uprisings accross "barbarian" Europe against the Roman state, such as that of the Gouths, could count as revolutions in the marxist sense as they marked the final blow to a economy based on centralised slave labour and the rise to power of the feudal classes.

[Phalanx]

In that case, you could look at the American Revolution, particularly in the beginning when it was much more of a guerrilla war.

Right, but that wasn't necessarily progressive. A modern day equivalent would be like the settlers in the West Bank revolting against Israel.

[ComradeOm]

Originally posted by Tatanka [email protected] 19, 2007 09:50 pm
Right, but that wasn't necessarily progressive. A modern day equivalent would be like the settlers in the West Bank revolting against Israel.
Don't confuse progressive with socialist. The two are not always the same. In the case of the American Revolution it can be argued that it was a break by the American bourgeoisie from the more aristocratic and feudal minded British rulers. Naturally this is a grossly simplistic representation.