Civilians and War

Civilians are those members of societies who are not themselves soldiers. Often the distinction is quite artificial, especially in periods or states where a great dependence on militias or reserve forces exists. A citizen of Athens or a U.S. reservist could be a soldier or civilian depending on what hour or what weekend one observes the person’s activities. The distinction is even less clear when examining the military history of sieges during which whole towns or cities were drafted into resisting the enemy. The manner in which civilians and war have interacted has varied...

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