Terrorism: The nature of its history

Abstract

Terrorism has a history that is at least 2000 years old. Although targets, victims, perpetrators, causes and justifications for the use of terror have changed, the methods of terrorism have remained the same throughout history. This article will review the developmental stages of terrorism to demonstrate that history defines terrorism as the use of violence to cause fear in order to force change in societal behavior or to force a society to acquiesce to the goals of the terrorist. The nature and history of terrorism will be reviewed from Roman occupation to modern militant Islamic terrorism.