European queens: more warlike than kings

Post Reply New Topic

I don't know this area of history very well, but a couple of NYU folks report a 27% increase in wars under European queens from 1480 to 1913, relative to kings:

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/01/eu ... cienceofus

Let's face it: From 1480 to 1913 was a very warlike period.

Queens had egos, just like kings.

But, unlike kings, they weren't usually expected to go to war themselves, so they had less to lose by being warlike.

? Kings didn't have to go to war at that period of time, the days of warrior kings were long gone by that point.

There were some kings who still took to the field during early modern times.

This is why the idea that a world run by women would somehow be more peaceful is not true.

I wouldn't go so far to say that women are more violence, but they can certainty solicit it if not participate in it.

Fun fact:

I was reading a book on chimpanzees, and, at one particular zoo, the females were introduced into the enclosure before the males, and, as a result, became dominant over the males.

The zookeepers reported that, while the females were violent less often, when they did become violent, they MUCH more destructive. It got to the point that a veterinarian had to be called daily to treat the aftermath of female rampages. Eventually, they removed the females for a time, thus allowing the males to regain dominance, and the situation greatly improved.

My point: I've never believed a world run by women would be a substantial improvement over a world run by men.

Chimps are seriously violent animals. They have this cute image, but their mood swings are extreme. There is a constant cycle of violence in a groups.

Although we have a much greater capacity for destruction, I would say that Chimps are easily more violent than modern humans.

I say that as historically we were more naturally violent, and we have become less violent. Although it may not seem that way, the conflict we have today are a drop in the ocean compared tot he past.

We take it a lot less for granted. That is not to say we aren't inclined to it just less so.

Bonobos are less violent, they happen to be more matriarchal, however they the use sex to defuse violence.

Maybe women monarchs had more to "prove" about not being pushed around so were quicker on the trigger of military engagement. Just a guess.

Well one person generally does not get to decide these things, although they do have some influence on the overall politics I suppose.