Throughout history, one of the most obvious signs of conquest is iconoclasm – that is to say, the destruction of a culture’s most cherished monuments, values and practices.
If you want to know which side has been defeated in a war or battle, simply look to see which side’s monuments lie in smouldering rubble. By defacing statues of a country’s heroes and figureheads, and replacing its flags and memorial structures with your own, you send the clear message that the victim has been utterly defeated and trampled underfoot.
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