古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事,古德明,香港英语教育作家,他开了一个《征服英语专栏》,在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事,用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。
改写西方文明的一战
the battle of the milvian bridge, which took place in october 312 between the two rivalling roman emperors constantine and maxentius, significantly changed the path of western civilisation.
on the evening before the battle, constantine, who was a pagan at the time, reportedly had a vision as he looked towards the setting sun. he saw a cross appear in the sky and he heard in latin,"in this sign, you will conquer." constantine therefore ordered his men to paint the sign of the cross upon their shields.
the next day, constantine won the battle although his troops were heavily outnumbered. he credited his victory to the god of the christians, and ordered the end of religious persecution. with the emperor as a patron, christianity became the dominant religion of the roman empire and ultimately of europe