EmilionJan 16
Natasha  🇪🇺

TIL: The earliest use of the word "terrorism" identified by the Oxford English Dictionary is a 1795 reference to tyrannical state behavior, the "reign of terrorism" in France."

The term was coined to describe the actions of the state during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, where agents of the Committee of Public Safety, referred to as "Terrorists," enforced the government's policies with violence against perceived enemies.

Jan 16 at 4:57amWeb
Show threadSu_GJan 16
@Natasha_Jay
Sounds terribly, horribly pertinent. 😐
Show threadkitJan 16
@Natasha_Jay
I'm not sure if I knew that, or should have known. Once upon a time I did know of the Reign of Terror, and I've more generally considered terrorism, defined as the use of violence to pursue political goals, to be very representative of Empire.
Show threadCorb_The_LesserJan 16
@Natasha_Jay Thousands, approaching 30,000, were executed, legally and extra-legally.
Show threadjulfJan 16
@Natasha_Jay And even now the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as "violent action or threats designed to cause fear among ordinary people, in order to achieve political aims".
Show threadSpoontaneous ConsumptionJan 16

@Natasha_Jay
If you need old-timey-wimey edutainment on this topic, #drwho has got you covered :)

https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/The_Reign_of_Terror_(TV_story)

The Reign of Terror (TV story)

The Reign of Terror was the eighth and final serial of season 1 of Doctor Who. It was the first story to use location filming, the first to feature a child actor in a speaking role, and the first to show the full-sized TARDIS prop materialising. It also heralded the arrival of writer and future script editor Dennis Spooner to the programme. It is the only season finale not to have any science fiction elements whatsoever, apart from the TARDIS and its crew. Amongst its most lasting narrative...

Tardis
Show threadMinmiTheDinoJan 17
@Natasha_Jay also worth remembering when we get excited about the whole guillotine thing
Show threadvery normal personJan 17
@minmi @Natasha_Jay yeah like they literally guillotined children for stealing fruit, the guillotine remained the primary method of state execution in france and it's colonies for like a hundred years, the french revolution was a mixed bag, and it didn't succeed even is destroying monarchism / fuedalism in france
Show thread🥑 Yours Truly! Unruly 🇨🇦🇪🇺🇺🇦🌻Jan 17

@Natasha_Jay

Terrorism. The means to fascist ends.

Show threadHippo 🍉Jan 17
@Natasha_Jay so, we're coming on a full circle!