WorldWatch with Benjamin Salvatore: Where history meets today's world 🌍

  "More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together. And that, my friends, is why we have the United Nations." — Kofi Annan (former UN Secretary-General) The United Nations was formed just after the aftermath of the Second World War in 1945. The institution was formed to maintain international peace and security, foster cooperation among nations, and promote human rights. It served as a successor to the defunct League of Nations. Its structure consists of six principal organs: the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Secretariat. It's worth noting that the United Nations is not a government for governments, but an organization. And it's effectiveness is largely based on the political will and contributions of its member states. Formation: The need for an international organization to repl...

  "The war against the Herero and Nama was the first in which German imperialism resorted to methods of genocide...one of the most horrific and still comparatively unknown genocide of the 20th century" — Historian Dan Stone   Before the Jewish genocide in 1945, Germany had carried a systematic cleansing of an ethnic group in Africa, one that is very much not talked about often. You ever hear about the Herero and Nama genocide? It’s one of those dark history lessons that doesn’t get enough airtime. Back in 1904–1908, in what’s now Namibia, German colonizers unleashed a nightmare, wiping out 80% of the Herero people and half the Nama—tens of thousands gone. On X, folks like @AfricaFactsZone are calling it Germany’s “hidden holocaust,” it’s time we dig in. Why’s this tragedy still in the shadows and what’s it got to do with today? Let’s find out.  What Went Down in 1904  It’s 1904 in German South West Africa, and tensions are high. German settlers are snatching land and...

  "The borders of Israel shall extend from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates" — Menachem Begin (former Israeli Prime Minister) Alright, let’s talk about something that’s been stirring up the Middle East geopolitics pot for ages: the Greater Israel doctrine. It’s this idea—part history, part ideology—that some say is a Zionist Plan to stretch Israel’s borders way beyond where they are now. It’s a hot topic, tied to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and regional tensions. So, what’s it all about, and why does it matter? Grab a seat, and let’s dig into this Greater Israel puzzle.  The Roots of Greater Israel  Picture this: ancient biblical texts, like Genesis 15:18, where God promises Abraham land from Egypt’s river to the Euphrates. That’s a huge chunk—think parts of Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and more. Fast-forward to the 19th century, and Zionism kicks in. Men like Theodor Herzl dreamed of a Jewish homeland, and some, like Revisionist Zionists, had big id...

"The Elizabethan age was a time of confidence and brilliance; the Victorian age, of doubt and earnestness." — G.M. Trevelyan, British historian. Step into an English history comparison that pits two iconic periods against each other: Elizabethan vs. Victorian England. The Elizabethan era (1558–1603) was a cultural blaze, sparking the English Renaissance with poets and pirates. Victorian England (1837–1901) roared as an industrial giant, ruling the British Empire. Both eras shaped Britain’s soul, but how do they stack up? Grab a cuppa, and let’s dive into this Elizabethan vs. Victorian showdown to uncover their drama, triumphs, and quirks. The Elizabethan Era: Shakespeare’s Dazzling English History Picture London in 1590: muddy streets, raucous taverns, and the shadow of plague. Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, rules with cunning, navigating religious strife and the Spanish Armada’s threat. The Elizabethan era was a cultural explosion, making it a cornerstone of English hi...

 "The Cold War was a contest of wills between the two most powerful states the world had ever seen, shaped as much by fear as by ideology" — John Lewis Gaddis  So the Cold War? It refers to the ideological warfare between the world’s two superpowers as at then, the USA and the USSR. You see, it wasn’t your traditional war, where there are infantry, tanks, you know that kind of stuff. These two big guys did not want to go at each other directly, this ideological warfare started just immediately after the Second World War in 1945 and went on until the dissolution of  USSR in 1991, so you might say since the U.S. actually lived to see the end of it, It kinda "won". And the ideology behind this warfare? Capitalism vs Communism. The world as at then was divided by an iron curtain, the capitalist bloc led by the USA and the communist bloc led by the USSR — the West and East divide. (Image at the end) So what are proxy wars? Simply put, they are conflicts where two powerfu...

"Romulus was not just a founder of Rome but a symbol of the city's fierce spirit and destiny —a tale where myth and history intertwine to shape a civilization" — Titus Livy (59 BC - 17 AD)  Most people who know me would definitely know I have an undying love for the City of Rome, I mean with all its histories and stuffs. I have this heartful wish to one day walk the street of Rome. Well, that's not why we're here, today I'll be taking you far back to the 8th century BC, back to when it all began... If you ever wondered how Rome started, then you’ve got to hear the story of Remus and Romulus. These two brothers are at the heart of Rome’s origin myth — a tale full of drama, family rivalry, and some serious twists. Yeah, Julius Caesar, Augustus or Marcus Aurelius are not the only legendary figures 😏 So, it all begins with a guy named King Numitor, who was the rightful ruler of a place called Alba Longa. But his brother Amulius was a real snake. He kicked Numitor...