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1918: American troops change the course of WWI—and U.S. influence
1918年：美軍改變了二戰進程，也改變了美國影響力的進程
Although the Meuse-Argonne campaign is little remembered today,
盡管如今已經鮮有人記得默茲-阿貢戰役，
it was the greatest U.S. military contribution to World War I and the opening act of the “American century.”
這場戰役卻是美軍為一戰所做的最大貢獻，也是“美國世紀”的開端。
The 47 autumn days of brutal fighting claimed 26,277 American lives—
47天的殘酷戰斗奪走了26277名美軍的生命——
making it the deadliest battle in the nation’s history—and left nearly 100,000 dough boys wounded.
為此也成了美國歷史上傷亡最慘重的一場戰斗——還造成了近10萬名士兵受傷。
This sacrifice materially contributed to the collapse of the German army.
德軍之所以潰敗，很大程度上都是因為美軍付出了這一犧牲。
It earned Woodrow Wilson a major role in crafting the peace that followed.
這一犧牲也讓伍德羅·威爾遜成了締造戰后和平的關鍵人物。
And it demonstrated that the U.S., which had generally avoided great power entanglements,
這一犧牲還表明，一貫避免參與大國糾纏的美國
had the will and ability to assume a major role on the world stage by using its vast military, political and economic power
有意愿，也有能力在世界舞臺上扮演主角，利用其龐大的軍事、政治和經濟實力
to secure its global interests and further the nation’s worldview.
維護其全球利益，拓展其世界觀。
But the Meuse-Argonne also highlights the fact that hard-won victories do not always lead to a just and enduring peace—
不僅如此，默茲-阿貢戰役還突出了一個事實：來之不易的勝利并不總能帶來公正和持久的和平——
a lesson that is as crucial today as it was back then.
于今而言，這一教訓的重要性也絲毫不亞于當時的重要性。
(And that was by) Richard Faulkner
本文作者理查德·福克納
Faulkner, the chair of military history at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College,
福克納是美國陸軍司令部和參謀學院軍事史系主任，
is the author of Pershing’s Crusaders: The American Soldier in World War I
也是《潘興的十字軍：一戰中的美國士兵》一書的作者。
1565: Explorers bridge the Pacific
1565年：探險家們跨越了太平洋
The first successful voyage across the Pacific Ocean from the Americas to Asia and back occurred in 1564 and 1565.
第一次成功跨越太平洋，從美洲到亞洲再到美洲的航行發生于1564~1565年。
Barely two generations after Columbus’ more famous voyage,
距離哥倫布那次名聲更為響亮的航行（1492~1493年）才過去了僅僅兩代人時間，
European explorers faced an ocean that was roughly twice as large as the Atlantic and extremely difficult to navigate.
歐洲探險者們再次來到了這片將近大西洋兩倍大，航行極其困難的太平洋面前。
This epic passage established a transpacific link, and no other shipping route has been more successful or lasted longer.
這次史詩般的航行連通了一條跨太平洋航線，目前為止，還沒有一條航線比這條更成功，更能經受時間的考驗。
Trade brought the continents together and created a seascape around the Pacific basin
貿易將大陸連接到了一起，圍繞包括阿卡普爾科、
that included places like Acapulco, Manila and the coast of California.
馬尼拉和加利福尼亞海岸在內的太平洋盆地繪制了一幅海上圖景。
By the 18th and 19th centuries, American merchants had built on these existing connections
到了18、19世紀，美國商人已經借著這些橋梁
to launch their own commercial ventures into the Asia-Pacific region,
在亞太地區開拓自己的商業道路了，
a process that continues today—even as Washington engages in a trade war with China.
這一做法一直持續到了今天——盡管華盛頓已經與中國打起了貿易戰。
And that was by Andres Resendez
本文作者安德烈思·雷森德斯
Reséndez, a professor of history at the University of California, Davis,
雷森德斯是加州大學戴維斯分校的歷史學教授，
is the author of The Other Slavery: The Uncovered Story of Indian Enslavement in America.
也是《另一種奴隸制：印第安人在美洲被奴役的不為人知的故事》一書的作者。
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