The world is a violent crimes place. It’s a reality we all must face, but it’s also one that we can try to understand. That’s why when people ask me what the most violent crimes in history are, my answer isn’t just a list of atrocities, it’s an attempt to understand how humanity ended up here.
The violent quotes on this list are more than just quotes; they’re proof of the fact that we’ve been dealing with violence for as long as we’ve been alive. We can’t escape it, but hopefully by learning from our mistakes, we can prevent them from happening again.
Here are five of the bloodiest episodes in human history:
The Rwandan genocide
The Rwandan genocide took place in 1994, when the Hutu ethnic group slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people belonging to the Tutsi community. The violence was sparked by a plane crash that killed Rwanda’s president and other government officials who were Hutus.
The conflict began after years of discrimination against Tutsis by the majority Hutus, who controlled all aspects of life in Rwanda at that time. When they lost power after an election loss, they began killing thousands upon thousands of their enemies–and eventually anyone else who wasn’t part of their tribe (or even those who were).
This massacre lasted 100 days before it ended with an estimated 800,000 dead–which makes it one of history’s most violent crimes ever committed.
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks
On Sept. 11, 2001, four airline hijackers flew two commercial airliners into the Twin Towers of New York City’s World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. The fourth plane crashed in a field near Shanks Ville, Pennsylvania after passengers attempted to retake control of the aircraft from its hijackers.
The attacks killed 2,996 people: 2,830 civilians in New York City; 343 firefighters and paramedics from multiple agencies who responded to the scene; 71 police officers from NYPD; 23 FBI agents; 37 military personnel based at Fort Myer or Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Andrews who were taking part in a training exercise at either location when they were told about the crash into The Pentagon; 188 passengers on board American Airlines Flight 77 (including five hijackers) and all but one crew member (who was killed after helping passengers escape), 57 passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 plus four hijackers who were aboard when it crashed into Shanks Ville before reaching its intended target which was thought to be either Camp David or another government building close by
The Chinese Cultural Revolution
The Chinese Cultural Revolution was a period of political and social upheaval in China from 1966 to 1976. It aimed to purge capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society and promote Maoist ideology and the leadership of Mao himself.
The Cultural Revolution had a profound impact on Chinese society, resulting in widespread violence, political persecution, and social dislocation. The movement began with mass rallies and demonstrations, with Mao calling on young people to form Red Guard groups to carry out the revolution.
The Cultural Revolution finally came to an end in 1976, with Mao’s death. Deng Xiaoping, who succeeded Mao, initiated a program of economic reform and opened up the country to foreign investment.
The Holocaust
The Holocaust was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews during World War II. The Nazis were responsible for the Holocaust, which took place between 1933 and 1945 in Nazi Germany.
The Nazi party, led by Adolf Hitler, came to power in Germany in 1933, and soon began implementing policies aimed at persecuting and eliminating Jewish people from society. Jews were subjected to discrimination, forced relocation, and increasingly violent attacks.
In 1941, the Nazis began a campaign of mass murder, using gas chambers and other methods to kill Jewish people in large numbers. The Holocaust had a profound impact on the world and serves as a reminder of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, and prejudice.
The Syrian Civil War
The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing military conflict that began in 2011. The war began when the Syrian Arab Spring protests turned into civil unrest, which quickly evolved into a full-scale war between government forces and various rebel groups.
The Arab Spring refers to a series of revolutionary movements across North Africa and the Middle East starting in 2010. The Syrian Civil War is an ongoing armed conflict in Syria that began in 2011. It started as a peaceful protest movement against the government of President Bashar al-Assad but quickly turned violent as the government cracked down on the demonstrations.
Conclusion
Violence is a part of our history, and it’s important to remember that it has happened in many different forms. Some people may look at these five examples and think that they are terrible crimes against humanity, while others may feel there are other events that should be included in this list instead. But no matter what side you’re on, one thing is clear: Violent will always be present as long as humans exist on planet Earth.
