How War Shaped Us

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Military conflict runs through every century of our recorded history. Join the Reith lecturer and bestselling historian as she asks: is war an essential part of being human?

War began as homo sapiens started to organize ourselves into groups. And as societies have changed and technologies have developed we have fought wars differently and often over greater distances and for longer. In turn, war has brought huge changes to society, for better and worse.

Throughout history, writers, artists, composers and philosophers have been inspired by war—whether to condemn, exalt or puzzle about it. Economies, science, technology, medicine, culture: all are instrumental in war and have been shaped by it. Without war we might not have had centralized states, penicillin, radar or rockets. And the role of women is war is fascinating too, whether on the home front, as workers or cheerleaders, or on the battlefields themselves.

Exploring the deep links between society and war and the questions they raise, this conversation between historian Margaret MacMillan and broadcaster Hannah MacInnes will reveal the many faces of war—the way it has determined our past, our future, our views of the world, and our very conception of ourselves. If we are never to be rid of war, how should we think about it and what does that mean for peace?

For more events check our online events calendar.