Which Wars Do People Talk About?

Some wars are in every textbook, pop quiz, and late-night documentary. You hear about them so much that you could probably fake your way through a conversation without even trying. But for every remembered battle, there’s another that quietly happened and got left behind. Come with us as we talk about both.

James F. Gibson / Adam Cuerden on Wikimedia

1. World War I

WWI erupted in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, but tensions had been brewing for years. This war introduced the tank, the airplane, and chemical weapons to the battlefield, turning combat into something terrifyingly modern. 

Royal Navy official photographer on Wikimedia

2. World War II

When Germany invaded Poland, the world plunged into another global conflict—one more far-reaching than the last. You can’t study the 20th century without seeing this war’s fingerprints on almost every major institution.

Smith (Lt), War Office official photographer on Wikimedia

3. Vietnam War

The Vietnam War (1955–1975) was a major Cold War proxy conflict driven by U.S.-Soviet rivalries, Vietnamese anti-colonial nationalism, and regional power struggles. With so many years on the battlefield, it was another brutal reminder of just how quickly hundreds of thousands of lives could be lost.

NARA photo 111-CCV-404-CC51628 by SP5 Lawrence Sullivan on Wikimedia

4. Korean War

After WWII, Korea was split along the 38th Parallel. When North Korean forces crossed it in 1950, they kicked off a war that brought in U.S. troops and Soviet equipment. Though it ended in a ceasefire, no peace treaty was signed.

Camera Operator: SGT. RILEY on Wikimedia

5. American Civil War

This war tore the United States apart from 1861 to 1865, pitting the North against the South over slavery, states’ rights, and economic power. The Confederacy fought fiercely to preserve its way of life, while the Union aimed to preserve the nation and, eventually, abolish slavery. 

Thomas C. Roche on Wikimedia

6. American Revolutionary War

Starting in 1775, this uprising turned 13 colonies into a nation. You see its legacy in the U.S. Constitution and in every Fourth of July celebration. What started with “taxation without representation” ended with a brand-new nation and a blueprint for future revolutions.

H. Charles McBarron, Jr. on Wikimedia

7. Gulf War

In 1990, Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and found the world ready to push back. A massive international coalition launched Operation Desert Storm—the ground war lasted just 100 hours, but the air campaign devastated Iraq’s infrastructure. 

Staff Sgt. Vance on Wikimedia

8. Iraq War

U.S.-led forces stormed into Iraq (2003), toppling Saddam Hussein’s regime within weeks, but the easy part ended there. The mission changed repeatedly until the initial withdrawal in 2011 left behind more questions than answers.

Tech. Sgt. Stephen Faulisi, U.S. Air Force on Wikimedia

9. Napoleonic Wars

Napoleon Bonaparte rose out of post-revolutionary France like a cannon shot. His military brilliance at Austerlitz and Jena terrified monarchies across the continent. Most importantly, these wars reshaped Europe’s map and gave rise to nationalism.

Jacques-Louis David on Wikimedia

10. War on Terror

Unlike past wars, this one has no clear front lines or uniformed enemies. You’d see drone warfare, intelligence operations, and evolving threats like cyberterrorism. It led governments to reshape laws and military doctrines in response. 

Harland Quarrington on Wikimedia

Now, let’s look at ten lesser-known wars that slipped through the cracks and deserve more recognition.

1. Crimean War

Fought in the 1850s, the Crimean War brought Britain, France, and the Ottoman Empire together against Russia in a fierce contest over Black Sea influence. This was among the earliest conflicts to feature war photography (e.g., Roger Fenton’s work) and telegraphic journalism.

Simpson, William, 1823-1899, artist., Paul & Dominic Colnaghi & Co., publishers on Wikimedia

2. War of the Pacific

Between 1879 and 1884, Chile faced off against Bolivia and Peru in a fight over the Atacama Desert’s mineral riches. You won’t hear about it in most classrooms, but this war redrew borders in South America. Bolivia lost its access to the sea, a sore point still affecting regional diplomacy. 

Murray Foubister on Wikimedia

3. Russo-Japanese War

The early 20th century’s balance of power shifted dramatically when Japan took on imperial Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. Naval warfare took center stage, particularly in the Battle of Tsushima, where the Japanese fleet stunned Western observers. 

Fæ on Wikimedia

4. Falklands War

In 1982, Argentina seized the remote Falkland Islands, claiming ancestral rights. Britain responded with naval force, sailing thousands of miles to reclaim them. It was a war with WWII-era grit, and it reignited debates over colonialism and nationalism. 

Colin Smith  on Wikimedia

5. War of the Triple Alliance

Paraguay’s leader launched into war against Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. From 1864 to 1870, Paraguay was nearly annihilated, and this forgotten war left scars on a continent and created political tremors that lasted for decades.

Carlos César (attrib) on Wikimedia

6. Banana Wars

Between the Spanish-American War and WWII, the U.S. repeatedly intervened in Central American nations to protect corporate and political interests. These were undeclared wars, carried out under the guise of stability, but they sowed deep-rooted resentment.

Richard from USA on Wikimedia

7. Greek Civil War

Following WWII, Greece spiraled into a conflict between communists and royalists. From 1946 to 1949, forests became battlefields, and villages were pulled apart by ideological divide. This war quietly shaped NATO’s southern strategy and left deep divisions within Greek society.

Royal Air Force official photographer on Wikimedia

8. First Italo-Ethiopian War

When Italy attempted to colonize Ethiopia in 1895, it didn’t expect what came next: a humiliating defeat. At the Battle of Adwa, Ethiopian forces routed the invaders, defending their sovereignty and becoming a symbol of African resistance. That’s how Ethiopia stood nearly alone as an independent African nation.

Menelik_-_Adoua.jpg: Le Petit Journal - F. Méaulle, scan by Vob08 derivative work: Zheim (talk) on Wikimedia

9. Biafran War

In 1967, Nigeria fractured as the southeastern region declared independence as Biafra. What followed was a brutal civil war defined by blockades and one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 20th century.

of all photographers, only one name of the author of the photograph is known: Peter Williams. The names of the rest of the photographers are unknown or not found in the sources on Wikimedia

10. Winter War

The Soviet Union expected an easy win when it invaded Finland in 1939. What it got was a bitter, snow-covered nightmare. Finland eventually ceded territory, but its resistance shocked the world. 

Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) on Wikimedia