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[[File:Military3.jpg‎|frame|center]]

[[File:Military3.jpg‎|frame|center]]

'''Military''' is an [[organization]]  authorized to use [[force]], usually including use of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon weapons], in defending its country by combating [[actual]] or [[perceived]] threats. As an adjective the term "military" is also used to refer to any [[property]] or aspect of a military. Militaries often [[function]] as [[societies]] within societies, by having their own military [[communities]], [[economies]], [[education]], [[medicine]] and other aspects of a functioning civilian [[society]].

'''Military''' is an [[organization]]  authorized to use [[force]], usually including use of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapon weapons], in defending its country by combating [[actual]] or [[perceived]] threats. As an adjective the term "military" is also used to refer to any [[property]] or aspect of a military. Militaries often [[function]] as [[societies]] within societies, by having their own military [[communities]], [[economies]], [[education]], [[medicine]] and other aspects of a functioning civilian [[society]].

The [[profession]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldier soldiering] as part of a military [[group]] is older than recorded [[history]] itself. Some of the most enduring images of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity classical antiquity] portray the [[power]] and feats of its military [[leaders]]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kadesh Battle of Kadesh] in 1274 BC was one of the defining points of Pharaoh [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramesses_II Ramesses II]'s reign and is [[celebrated]] in bas-relief on his [[monuments]]. A thousand years later the first emperor of unified China, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_Shi_Huang Qin Shi Huang], was so [[determined]] to impress the [[gods]] with his military might that he was [[buried]] with an army of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army terracotta soldiers]. The [[Romans]] were [[dedicated]] to military matters, leaving to [[posterity]] many treatises and [[writings]] as well as a large [[number]] of lavishly carved [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphal_arch triumphal arches] and columns.

The [[profession]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldier soldiering] as part of a military [[group]] is older than recorded [[history]] itself. Some of the most enduring images of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_antiquity classical antiquity] portray the [[power]] and feats of its military [[leaders]]. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kadesh Battle of Kadesh] in 1274 BC was one of the defining points of Pharaoh [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramesses_II Ramesses II]'s reign and is [[celebrated]] in bas-relief on his [[monuments]]. A thousand years later the first emperor of unified China, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qin_Shi_Huang Qin Shi Huang], was so [[determined]] to impress the [[gods]] with his military might that he was [[buried]] with an army of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army terracotta soldiers]. The [[Romans]] were [[dedicated]] to military matters, leaving to [[posterity]] many treatises and [[writings]] as well as a large [[number]] of lavishly carved [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumphal_arch triumphal arches] and columns.

In the [[modern]] era, world [[wars]] and countless other major [[conflicts]] have changed the employment of the militaries beyond [[recognition]] to their ancient [[participants]]. [[Empires]] have come and gone; [[states]] have grown and declined. Enormous [[social]] [[changes]] have been wrought, and military [[power]] continues to dominate international [[relations]]. The role of the military today is as central to global [[societies]] as it ever was.

In the [[modern]] era, world [[wars]] and countless other major [[conflicts]] have changed the employment of the militaries beyond [[recognition]] to their ancient [[participants]]. [[Empires]] have come and gone; [[states]] have grown and declined. Enormous [[social]] [[changes]] have been wrought, and military [[power]] continues to dominate international [[relations]]. The role of the military today is as central to global [[societies]] as it ever was.

==Etymology and definitions==

==Etymology and definitions==

The first [[recorded]] use of military in [[English]], spelled ''militarie'', was in 1585. It comes from the [[Latin]] militaris (from Latin miles [[meaning]] "soldier") but is of uncertain etymology, one suggestion being derived from *mil-it- - going in a [[body]] or mass. The word is now identified as denoting someone that is [[skilled]] in use of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons weapons], or engaged in military [[service]] or in [[warfare]].

The first [[recorded]] use of military in [[English]], spelled ''militarie'', was in 1585. It comes from the [[Latin]] militaris (from Latin miles [[meaning]] "soldier") but is of uncertain etymology, one suggestion being derived from *mil-it- - going in a [[body]] or mass. The word is now identified as denoting someone that is [[skilled]] in use of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons weapons], or engaged in military [[service]] or in [[warfare]].

As a noun the military usually refers generally to a country's armed [[forces]] or sometimes, more specifically, to the senior officers who command them. In general it refers to the physicality of armed forces, their personnel, equipment, and [[physical]] area which they occupy.

As a noun the military usually refers generally to a country's armed [[forces]] or sometimes, more specifically, to the senior officers who command them. In general it refers to the physicality of armed forces, their personnel, equipment, and [[physical]] area which they occupy.

As an adjective military [[originally]] applied only to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldiers soldiers] and soldiering, but it soon broadened to apply to [[land]] forces in general and anything to do with their [[profession]]. The [[names]] of both the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Military_Academy,_Woolwich Royal Military Academy] (1741) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy United States Military Academy] (1802) [[reflect]] this. However, at about the time of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonic_Wars Napoleonic Wars] "military" begun to be [[applied]] to armed forces as a whole and in the 21st century [[expressions]] like "military service", "military intelligence" and "military history" reflect this broader [[meaning]]. As such, it now connotes any [[activity]] performed by the military personnel.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military]

As an adjective military [[originally]] applied only to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soldiers soldiers] and soldiering, but it soon broadened to apply to [[land]] forces in general and anything to do with their [[profession]]. The [[names]] of both the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Military_Academy,_Woolwich Royal Military Academy] (1741) and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Military_Academy United States Military Academy] (1802) [[reflect]] this. However, at about the time of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleonic_Wars Napoleonic Wars] "military" begun to be [[applied]] to armed forces as a whole and in the 21st century [[expressions]] like "military service", "military intelligence" and "military history" reflect this broader [[meaning]]. As such, it now connotes any [[activity]] performed by the military personnel.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military]

[[Category: History]]

[[Category: History]]