In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut

As Manifest Destiny rippled through America, the dream of moving west became a reality for many families. As thousands set out on a number of wagon routes, many were unprepared for the harsh reality that the journey soon confronted them with. Disease, tensions with Indigenous peoples, accidents, and the weather were just a few challenges that emigrants faced on their trips to a new life. Hundreds would die, and some would survive, but the wild tales of their adventures traveled to all corners of the country and persist in the depths of US history to this day.1. An Utter DisasterThe Van Ornums were members of the Utter wagon train. The child in the photo was Reuben Van Ornum, one of the four children abducted as they attempted to flee the post-attack encampment. His fate is unknown. Source: Utah State University Special Collections Department / Wikimedia CommonsOn September 8, 1860, a wagon train of eight wagons from Wisconsin and Illinois, led by Elijah Utter made its way along the South Alternate route of the Oregon Trail. As they traveled through Southwestern Idaho, the assemblage of forty-four emigrants, twenty-one of them children, made up of members from several family groups, was attacked by a contingency of Native Americans, numbering twenty-five to thirty. In a disaster that would become known as the Utter Massacre or the Snake River Massacre, the members of an unnamed Indian tribe attempted to stampede the wagon trains herd of livestock, then attacked the emigrants themselves as they attempted to circle their wagons. After an initial feint, the Indigenous men appeared to back off, and the group continued onto a nearby river for desperately needed water. However, the group of attackers returned, and the train decided to leave some wagons and supplies in hopes that it would satisfy the assailants before moving on ahead to circle the wagons once again.The Upper Snake River. Source: Bdspang180 / Wikimedia CommonsStill, the onslaught continued into the next day. Numerous emigrants were wounded and killed, including Elijah Utter and his family, who refused to leave their injured patriarch. The survivors elected to flee on foot, leaving their wagons and the majority of their supplies. The group moved down the Snake River for a week, then, exhausted, set up camp at the Owyhee River crossing in Oregon. There were eighteen children and seven adult survivors when they encamped.Desperate, they ate two dogs, what waterfowl they could shoot, foraged for berries, and fished mussels from the river. Four children and one man died from starvation and wounds during the time at the camp, and it is believed that the survivors were driven to eat their flesh. A small group attempted to leave the camp in search of rescue. After they encountered a party of Native Americans, four children from that group were taken captive.Their bodies were later recovered by US Army soldiers.Marcus Reno, who would later play a role at the Battle of Little Bighorn, was a member of the armys rescue party. Source: Carter MuseumOn October 24, an army expedition finally reached the Owyhee Camp, rescuing the ten survivors that remained. The events that the Utter wagon train was subjected to would gain notoriety as the largest disaster to befall travelers on the Oregon Trail. This event would further deteriorate the relationships between Indigenous people and the white settlers encroaching on their homelands. It is estimated that approximately 360 wagon train travelers were killed by Native Americans between 1840 and 1860the era in which Utter and his ill-fated party traveled. Though estimates for Indigenous deaths are harder to come by, historians estimate the number of members from various tribes killed runs at more than 425 during the same historical period.2. Almost 10% Were Killed by DiseaseAn oil painting illustrates the effects of dysentery on the intestinal lining. Source: Barts Health Archives / Wikimedia CommonsGen-Xers and Millennials likely remember seeing You have died of dysentery flash across their computer screens as they played the iconic Oregon Trail video game. This fate wasnt too far off the mark from reality. It is estimated that 6-10% of those heading west perished due to some form of illness along the way. With a journey of approximately 2,000 miles, this would mean there was an average of 10-15 deaths per mile of trail. Cholera, dysentery, measles, smallpox, and scurvy were some of the more common ailments afflicting travelers. Very few marked gravesites remain today, as burials were often hurried so the train could move on, or hidden to prevent grave robbing.3. The Doomed DonnersThe Donner Party Memorial. Source: Wikimedia CommonsThe grisly story of the Donner Party is perhaps the most famous of tales to arise from the wagon train era. The twenty-wagon convoy made a series of bad decisions that resulted in their group being forced to a halt as winter weather descended on them. They became trapped near the Sierra Nevada mountain range, where members of the group starved, succumbed to disease, and were forced to eat anything they could findincluding the deadto survive. 87 started the trek from Illinois in April 1846, but almost half would die before rescue.4. Emigrants Ditched Their Stuff to SurviveFort Laramie, 1863. Source: Signal Corps, War Department / Wikimedia CommonsTravelers along the western trails were advised to pack everything they would need to sustain their families for six months. Besides food and provisions, the settlers would need emergency equipment, tools for wagon repair, and items for their livestock. In addition, many travelers wanted to bring their most treasured possessions with them as they began their new lives out west. This often resulted in overpacking and heavily laden wagons. This could be problematic, as the draft animals used to pull the loads could only handle so much. As a result, many were forced to discard items not necessary for immediate survival along their route. One traveler dubbed Fort Laramie, in present-day Wyoming, Fort Sacrifice because of all of the goods left behind there. In just the first six months of 1849, over 20,000 pounds of bacon had been dumped at the fort.5. Prairie Madness StruckThe seemingly never-ending prairie brought some settlers feelings of hopelessness. Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service / Wikimedia CommonsIn an era when mental illness was poorly understood, a phenomenon known as prairie madness or prairie fever made itself known among the pioneers heading west. This affliction caused sufferers to experience a mental break, which often led to periods of depression and violence. The conditions of high stress, fatigue, and illness on the trip created a perfect storm, especially for those already suffering from mental illness.Perhaps the most well-known case of prairie madness was suffered by Elizabeth Markham in 1847. Her family was traveling to Oregon when she declared she would go no further. After arguing with his pregnant wife for a while, her husband, John, decided to continue, certain his wife would come to her senses and catch up. When she didnt, he sent his oldest son back to retrieve his mother.Living out of a wagon for months on end was not for the faint of heart. Source: Larry D. Moore / Wikimedia Commons, CC by 4.0Eventually, Elizabeth returned, minus her son. She matter-of-factly told her husband she had beaten their son to death with a rock. John rushed back and found his son alive but returned to find his wife had set fire to one of their wagons. The family survived, including the baby Elizabeth later gave birth to in Oregon, and made it to the end of the trail. They had one more child before eventually divorcing.6. Milk Sickness StrikesCows became unintentional murderers on the trip west. Source: Thomson W. Leys / Wikimedia CommonsA mysterious disease began attacking settlers beginning in the 1800s, afflicting many frontier families. Sufferers would suddenly be struck with vomiting, weakness, and trembling. Coma and death often followed the onset of symptoms. The disease got many nicknames, including the slows and the staggers, before it received its final moniker, milk sickness. Many travelers brought livestock, including milk cows, with them on the trip to provide nourishment on the trail. It turned out that a native plant, white snakeroot, was to blame. Cows that ingested the plant would pass toxins from the plant via their milk onto their unsuspecting owners. Though it has never been definitively proven, biologists believe that the plant compound tremetol was to blame for milk sickness.7. A Mournful AccidentA fateful accident resulted in death for one young man on the trail. Source: Walters Art Museum / Wikimedia CommonsThe unfortunately named John Shotwell made a name for himself on the Oregon Trail, but not in the way he likely hoped. Young Shotwell went down in history as the first person to die on the Oregon Trail from a firearm accident. On May 13, 1841, Shotwell reached into his wagon to pull out his rifle, likely to locate a meal. He pulled the gun out muzzle first, and in the act, it went off and lodged a bullet near his heart. He perished not long after. While shootings would become common along the trail west, they were usually attributed to accidents such as this one.An image from The Oregon Trail. Source: Internet Archive / SmithsonianThe prospect of a better life filled with opportunities was what drove the constant push westward. Despite the dangers and the reality of horror and misery, thousands of Americans braved the perils, fulfilling the belief of Manifest Destiny and spreading the influence of the United States.This was a new chapter for the young nation, and one that spawned innumerable stories that shaped American identity.

Soccer, or football as it is known by much of the English-speaking world, is played by some 250 million people, making it the most popular sport on Earth. It is not only a sport but also a cultural phenomenon that has endured over the centuries as a pastime for players and fans. What are the origins of the game we know today as soccer, and how has it left a legacy on global society? This is the story of soccer and its evolution throughout the years.Where Did Soccer Originate?One Hundred Children in the Long Spring, by Su Hanchen, 12th Century CE, Song Dynasty. Source: The National Palace Museum Collection, Taipei, TaiwanThe earliest known form of a kicking game resembling modern soccer is the Chinese game cuju, which means kickball. The Fdration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) cites this game as the oldest example of what would later become soccer, with descriptions dating back to the Han Dynasty of the 2nd century BCE.Ancient Greece also had forms of ball games that somewhat resembled modern soccer. An air-filled ball was kicked and thrown around a field called Episkyros, which was later the basis for the Roman game harpastum. This game was probably more reminiscent of modern-day rugby, but there are surviving accounts of Romans kicking around the follis (air-filled ball). The politician Cicero even mentioned an incident in which a man was killed while being shaved in a barber shop due to a ball being kicked into the shop.However, while FIFA cites these as the origins of games involving kicking balls in antiquity, the history of soccer itself is based in medieval England. As far back as the 9th century, there are accounts of football matches being played to celebrate certain festivals, such as Shrovetide, Christmas, or Easter.An illustration of a mob football match played at Londons Crowe Street, 1721. Source: The Footie ProfessorThese earliest forms of football were called folkball or mob football, as there were no player limits for either side. Often whole villages would kick around inflated animal bladders to get the ball to a certain geographic area, such as the opposing teams church if the game was being played in a meadow between two parishes.In 1314, the first law against football was made by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Nicholas de Farndone. He decreed that hustling over large foot balls caused great noise in the city and wanted to see it banned due to the many evils [that] might arise. Several such laws followed throughout the 14th century, including one from King Edward III of England who banned handball, football, or hockey in the country.While over 30 bans were in place throughout the 14th and 17th centuries in England, the game endured, and through Britains public schools, evolved into the game of soccer as we know it today.Association Football: How Modern Soccer DevelopedThe Doonies versus the Croonies on New Years Day by Alexander Carse, circa 1810. The oldest known example of a painting of football. Source: National Galleries of Scotland Blog/Bourne Fine Art; with A soccer ball on the field of a stadium. Source: PexelsBritains elite private schools (known in the UK as public schools) were the crucible of modern soccer. The sport had declined in popularity among the working class, who simply did not have time for recreation and whose children often worked six days per week like the adults. On the other hand, early football soared in popularity among public school boys, who had more free time during their studies and were encouraged to use football as a healthy expression of competitiveness and fitness.For this reason, several public schools throughout England became the inventors of modern soccer, with formal rules and regulations for gameplay. However, each school, seeing football as a fun activity among pupils, made up its own rules for the game.By the early to mid-19th century, these individual school rules had begun to form two distinct schools of thought. Several schools, such as Rugby, Cheltenham, and Marlborough, preferred a style of play in which the ball could be carried, while others, such as Harrow, Eton, Charterhouse, and Westminster, played a version of the game in which only the feet were used to kick and dribble the ball.In the 1840s, the invention of the railroad revolutionized travel not only for pleasure and work but also for sports. Schools could easily travel to one another to play competitively, but they were hampered by the fact that their rules were very different. To continue playing, a short-term compromise was made that the first half of the game would be played with the host schools rules and the second half would be played with the visiting schools rules.Team of Sheffield F.C., 1857. One of the oldest surviving soccer teams. Source: The IndependentThe first impetus for a uniform set of rules in modern soccer was the drawing up of the Cambridge rules in 1848. While these regulations were not universally adopted, they provided the basis for the formation of the Football Association (FA) in 1863. In addition to this, football was growing in popularity beyond the public school players. With the Factory Act of 1850, working-class children and adults had more recreation time for games, including various forms of soccer.Modern soccer was officially established in December 1863 when the English FA released the Laws of the Game. These laws banned carrying the ball while running, kicking opponents in the shins (called hacking), tripping, and holding. Eleven teams ratified the codes and set the spark alight for modern organized soccer.The Laws of the Game and the formation of clubs, international matches, and cup competitions like the FA Cup were followed by the creation of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in 1886 and the international soccer body FIFA in Paris in 1904.In the modern day, the IFAB comprises four representatives of FIFA and one member of each of the four British associations: the Football Association (FA), the Irish Football Association, the Scottish Football Association, and the Football Association of Wales.Several thousand teams now exist in leagues worldwide. Fanship is passed down through generations, and rivalries often reflect not only sports but also the cultural and political climate of the surrounding countries. Soccer is not simply a sport; it is now a cultural phenomenon in much of the world.The Cultural Implications of SoccerBritish troops, German soldiers, and medical personnel meeting in No-Mans Land during the Christmas truce, December 25, 1914, by Cassowary Colorizations. Source: FlickrThroughout the 20th century, Europe and South America were the most dominant soccer regions. The introduction of the FIFA World Cup in 1930, the European Cup in 1958, and the Copa Libertadores de Amrica (CONMEBOL Libertadores) in 1960 allowed for play between national teams. Throughout the decades, international competitions have been peacemakers, but they have also been catalysts for conflict.Perhaps the most famous example of soccer being a peacemaker is the Christmas Truce of 1914, when German and British troops called for a day-long ceasefire. During the truce, the two sides played a soccer game, which Germany won 3-2. Though the peace did not last, soccer brought together enemies from out of the trenches.Another instance involved Brazilian soccer legend Pel, who traveled to Lagos, Nigeria, to play an exhibition game in 1967. The country was embroiled in a civil war at the time, but both sides agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire to watch a master of the sport play. Similarly, and more recently, Cote dIvoires national team qualified for the World Cup in 2006. The country was in the midst of its civil war at the time, but President Laurent Gbagbo agreed to a truce and eventually restarted peace negotiations due to the insistence of the Ivorian Football Federation. Soccer unified the country again and effectively helped to end the civil war.Pel, the worlds most expensive football player at Schiphol, by Joop van Bilsen, October 19, 1962. Source: Nationaal Archief, Netherlands, The HagueWhile there are several instances of soccer inspiring peace, there are just as many about soccer inciting violence. In 1969, El Salvador and Honduras fought a 100-hour war after rising tension between the countries over border disputes, resulting in riots during the World Cup qualifiers between the two countries.The Salvadoran team went on to the World Cup, but the same day they won the play-off match, Honduras broke diplomatic relations with its neighboring country. By July 14, El Salvador invaded Honduras. Negotiations for peace were carried out swiftly just six days later, but by that point, up to 2,000 people had died in the conflict that was super-heated by the teams matches. The event is still known as the football war globally.While soccer can start and end conflicts, it is also a stage where players and fans settle political disputes and voice their opinionsall through the game. Postwar grievances are often played out through sports, such as between the Netherlands and Germany. For generations after the end of World War II and the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, the two teams and their fans were fierce rivals. Author of How Soccer Explains the World Franklin Foer argued that Dutch pride was only restored when the Netherlands player Frank Rijkaard spit in the hair of Germanys Rudi Voller during a second-round World Cup match in 1990.Political persuasions can also be viewed through the lens of soccer, as is evident between Glasgows (Scotland) two rival teams Celtic and Rangers. Both teams were formed in the late 1800s, Celtic by an Irish Catholic charitable organization and Rangers by Protestants. Religious sectarianism has been an issue in Scotland since the 16th century when the teachings of John Knox led to a growing Protestant population in a traditionally Catholic country.Rangers fans at an Old Firm match, by Steve Lynch. Source: Danmarks Nationalleksikon (Denmarks National Encyclopedia), CopenhagenThis older sectarianism was reignited during the 19th century when masses of Irish Catholics immigrated to Scotland, fleeing the Irish Potato Famine. Tensions between Catholics and Protestants only increased, along religious, socioeconomic, and political lines. This spilled over into soccer, supported by Celtics roots in Irish Catholicism and Rangers keeping a Protestant only policy for players well into the second half of the 20th century.Throughout the years, Glasgows teams and their supporters have come to represent two sides of the political spectrum in Britain. Rangers represent British Unionism, and Celtic echo Irish Republicanism and Scottish nationalism. The rivalry culminates in the Old Firm, a cross-town derby played by the two teams that always produces sectarian chants and jeers and rarely ends without violence.For some, allegiance to a soccer team can literally mean life or death. It is a cultural touchstone that unites and divides people on religious, economic, and political lines. While soccer is a sport first and foremost, it also reflects the society in which it exists.Soccer Today: Still EvolvingArgentinas Lionel Messi lifts the World Cup trophy alongside teammates as they celebrate after winning the World Cup in 2022. Source: FlickrFrom Total Football to Tiki-Taka, soccer is a constantly evolving game. Within the last few years, the introduction of video assistant referee (VAR) technology, which allows for the replay of fouls and offside calls, alone has added technological advancement to a historical game. It has become a game of must-wins and billions of dollars, both spent and earned, a far cry from the game for schoolboys established in the 1800s.According to ESPNs Bill Connelly, soccer has become less physical and more calculated and efficient even in the last ten years. This could be because soccer has a significant global impact on the economy, and teams need efficiency to achieve the high rewards that come with being a winning club.Soccer stadiums become epicenters of economic and social activity during the days leading up to a match, supporting tourism and stimulating local economies. This is dwarfed by soccers support of broadcasting, advertising, and merchandising on a macro level. It is the most popular game in the world for a reason, it has adapted to the increasing globalization of the world.A soccer ball on the field of a stadium. Source: PexelsThe game of soccer is still a stage upon which social and political issues can be showcased. The English Premier League has a campaign against racism in the sport, and national teams often represent solidarity and pride in their country, as is the case with the Ukrainian national team since the countrys invasion by Russia in 2022. Soccer is also still a great equalizer. It unites people from incredibly diverse socioeconomic backgrounds who come together to play and enjoy the sport.In a 1981 interview, Liverpool FC manager Bill Shankly said, Some people believe that football is a matter of life and death. I am very disappointed with that attitude, it is much, much more important than that! While Shankly was commenting on the intense rivalry between Liverpool FC and Everton FC, this logic applies to soccer fans worldwide. For many, it is like a secular religion, a reason to unite. Soccer has had an undeniable impact on the culture, politics, and economy of the world, and if its 250 million players are any indication, it will maintain that impact for decades to come.

If you took the intense, brutal conflicts of Battlefield 1 and fused them into the combat simulation of TABS, you'd probably end up with something a lot like Rising Front. The sandbox war game is primarily focused on World War I, but also features scenarios for the American Revolutionary War and the Franco-Prussian War to mix up your play. It lets you simulate massive battles featuring all manner of infantry, ground vehicles, and planes, allowing you to command your army from an aerial strategic view or drop into the action to take control in first-person. And now it's finally out of early access, complete with a huge upgrade.Read the full story on PCGamesN: Blending Battlefield and TABS, WW1 sandbox Rising Front just hit version 1.0 with the addition of playable tanks and cavalry

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