⏱️ 6 min read
Throughout history, certain battles have become legendary—Waterloo, Gettysburg, Normandy—while others have faded from collective memory despite their profound impact on the course of civilizations. These forgotten conflicts reshaped borders, altered the balance of power, and changed the trajectory of entire nations, yet they remain largely unknown to the general public. Understanding these overlooked military engagements provides crucial insight into how the modern world came to be.
Battles That Shaped Our World in Ways We’ve Forgotten
1. The Battle of Talas (751 CE)
The Battle of Talas, fought between the Abbasid Caliphate and the Chinese Tang Dynasty in present-day Kazakhstan, determined the cultural and religious boundaries of Central Asia for centuries to come. This confrontation halted Chinese westward expansion and ensured that Central Asia would develop under Islamic rather than Chinese influence. More significantly, Chinese prisoners captured during this battle included skilled papermakers, whose knowledge subsequently spread throughout the Islamic world and eventually to Europe. This transfer of paper-making technology revolutionized communication, education, and record-keeping across the Western world, making this forgotten battle instrumental in the intellectual development of medieval Europe.
2. The Battle of Tours (732 CE)
While slightly more recognized than others on this list, the Battle of Tours remains underappreciated for its historical significance. Charles Martel’s Frankish forces defeated the Umayyad Caliphate’s army between Tours and Poitiers in France, effectively stopping the Islamic expansion into Western Europe. Had the outcome been different, the religious, cultural, and linguistic landscape of Europe would have been dramatically altered. This victory preserved Christianity as the dominant religion in Western Europe and allowed for the eventual rise of the Carolingian Empire, which laid the foundations for medieval European civilization.
3. The Battle of Ain Jalut (1260)
The Battle of Ain Jalut in present-day Israel marked the first significant defeat of the seemingly unstoppable Mongol Empire. The Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt successfully halted the Mongol advance into Africa and the Middle East, preserving Islamic civilization in these regions. This victory prevented the Mongols from conquering Egypt, North Africa, and potentially the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The battle established the Mamluks as a major power and ensured that the Middle East would maintain its Islamic character, profoundly affecting the region’s development for the next eight centuries.
4. The Battle of Yarmouk (636 CE)
The Battle of Yarmouk witnessed the Rashidun Caliphate defeat the Byzantine Empire in what is now Syria, resulting in one of the most significant territorial and religious transformations in history. This decisive victory opened the Levant to Islamic conquest and began the rapid expansion of Islam throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The Byzantine Empire never recovered these territories, permanently altering the religious and cultural identity of regions that had been Christian for centuries. The geopolitical consequences of this battle continue to influence the modern Middle East.
5. The Battle of Kalka River (1223)
The Battle of Kalka River served as Europe’s first encounter with the Mongol military machine, though few in the West remember this catastrophic defeat of the Kievan Rus’ and Cuman-Kipchak forces. This battle demonstrated Mongol tactical superiority and foreshadowed the devastation that would follow with subsequent invasions. The fragmentation of Kievan Rus’ power structures following this defeat contributed to the eventual rise of Muscovy and the formation of Russia as a distinct political entity separate from European development for centuries.
6. The Battle of Sekigahara (1600)
The Battle of Sekigahara unified Japan under Tokugawa Ieyasu, establishing the Tokugawa Shogunate that would rule Japan for over 250 years. This battle ended decades of civil war during the Sengoku period and initiated an era of isolation and internal stability that shaped Japanese culture, society, and identity. The policies implemented after this victory—including restrictions on foreign contact and internal travel—created a unique Japanese civilization that would dramatically contrast with Western nations upon Japan’s reopening in the nineteenth century.
7. The Battle of Plassey (1757)
The Battle of Plassey saw the British East India Company defeat the Nawab of Bengal, marking the beginning of British colonial dominance over the Indian subcontinent. Though involving relatively few combatants and minimal actual fighting, this battle’s consequences were enormous. It transformed a trading company into a territorial power and initiated nearly two centuries of British rule over India. The economic exploitation, cultural changes, and political structures imposed during this period continue to affect South Asia’s development, international relations, and internal conflicts.
8. The Battle of Lechfeld (955 CE)
The Battle of Lechfeld witnessed Otto I of Germany decisively defeat the Magyar forces, ending decades of devastating raids across Central and Western Europe. This victory stabilized Central Europe, allowed for the consolidation of the Holy Roman Empire, and forced the Magyar people to settle permanently in the Carpathian Basin, where they established the Kingdom of Hungary. The battle fundamentally altered European demographics and political organization, yet remains virtually unknown outside academic circles.
9. The Battle of Hakata Bay (1274 and 1281)
The Mongol invasions of Japan, repelled during the Battles of Hakata Bay, preserved Japanese independence during the height of Mongol power. These attempted invasions—famously disrupted by typhoons the Japanese called “kamikaze” or divine winds—reinforced Japanese beliefs in their nation’s special protection and uniqueness. The failure of these invasions marked one of the few successful resistances to Mongol conquest and allowed Japan to develop independently from continental Asian influences during a crucial historical period.
10. The Battle of Adwa (1896)
The Battle of Adwa saw Ethiopian forces decisively defeat the Italian army, making Ethiopia one of only two African nations to successfully resist European colonization during the Scramble for Africa. This victory preserved Ethiopian sovereignty and became a powerful symbol of African resistance to colonialism. The battle inspired anti-colonial movements throughout Africa and the African diaspora, contributing to the eventual decolonization movements of the twentieth century. Ethiopia’s success at Adwa demonstrated that European military superiority was not absolute and provided hope for other colonized peoples.
The Lasting Impact of Forgotten Conflicts
These ten forgotten battles remind us that history’s most influential moments are not always the most remembered. Each conflict reshaped political boundaries, altered religious and cultural landscapes, or changed the balance of power in ways that continue to affect contemporary global affairs. From the transfer of Chinese paper-making technology to the Islamic world after Talas, to the preservation of Japanese independence at Hakata Bay, these overlooked engagements demonstrate that understanding history requires looking beyond the famous dates every schoolchild memorizes. By recognizing these forgotten battles, we gain a more complete picture of how military conflicts have shaped human civilization and why our modern world looks the way it does.
