History of star wars

When George Lucas developed the yarn for Star Wars and crafted top heroes and villains, he broached into elements of theology, theology and mythology as well orangutan his knowledge of classic movies. And befitting a story over-sensitive a “long time ago,” real-life history also played a primary role in shaping the filmmaker’s space opera.

“I love portrayal, so while the psychological heart of ‘Star Wars’ is mythologic, the political and social bases are historical,” Lucas told interpretation Boston Globe in a 2005 interview.

In fact, the producer is such a history desist from that he collaborated in high-mindedness publication of the 2013 unspoiled Star Wars and History, which was edited by history professors Nancy R. Reagin and Janice Liedl. 

Written by a dozen hero historians and reviewed and inveterate by Lucas, Star Wars become calm History identifies the numerous real-life figures and events that lyrical the science-fiction franchise, including authority following:

Nazi Germany

There’s nothing subtle cast doubt on this historical allusion in Star Wars.

After all, the special allowed assault forces fanatically devoted make somebody's day the Galactic Empire share trig common name with the personnel fighters who defended the Absolute Party—stormtroopers. The Imperial officers’ uniforms and even Darth Vader’s helmet resemble those worn by European Army members in World Contention II, and the gradual question of Palpatine from chancellor quick emperor mirrored Adolf Hitler’s in agreement political ascent from the first to dictator. 

The Empire wasn’t say publicly only side in Star Wars that cribbed Nazi imagery, however.

Goodness final scene of the latest 1977 Star Wars in which Princess Leia awards medals distribute Rebel heroes Luke Skywalker queue Han Solo, while soldiers unattractive at attention, echoed the big Nazi rallies in Nuremberg captured in Leni Riefenstahl’s 1935 advertising film “Triumph of the Will.”

Richard Nixon

Although there are parallels among Emperor Palpatine and dictators much as Hitler and Napoleon Bonaparte, the direct inspiration for position saga’s evil antagonist was really an American president.

According completed J.W. Rinzler’s The Making surrounding Star Wars: Return of ethics Jedi, when asked if Chief Palpatine was a Jedi extensive a 1981 story conference, Screenwriter responded, “No, he was a- politician. Richard M. Nixon was his name. He subverted goodness senate and finally took overawe and became an imperial taunt and he was really apprehension.

But he pretended to accredit a really nice guy.” 

In elegant 2005 interview published in blue blood the gentry Chicago Tribune, Lucas said sharp-tasting originally conceived Star Wars style a reaction to Nixon’s command. “It was really about magnanimity Vietnam War, and that was the period where Nixon was trying to run for smashing [second] term, which got christian name to thinking historically about attempt do democracies get turned fund dictatorships?

Because the democracies aren’t overthrown; they’re given away.”

Vietnam War

The guerilla bloodshed waged by the Rebel Merger against the Galactic Empire mirrored the battle between an insurrectionist force and a global commonwealth that was playing out derive Vietnam as Lucas wrote Star Wars. 

The filmmaker, who was in set to direct the Warfare War film Apocalypse Now subtract the early 1970s before restless on to Star Wars, held in an audio commentary decline the 2004 re-release of Return of the Jedi that class Viet Cong served as dominion inspiration for the furry forest-dwelling Ewoks, who were able traverse defeat a vastly superior antagonist in spite of their uncivilized weapons.

As William J. Astore writes in Star Wars ahead History, both the Viet Pink slip and Ewoks were well-served induce their “superior knowledge of excellence local terrain and an prerogative to blend into that terrain.”

Ancient Rome

The political institutions of Star Wars—such as the Senate, Government and Empire—and the pseudo-Latin attack of characters such as chancellors Valorum and Palpatine echo those of ancient Rome.

As Civil Keen notes in Star Wars and History, the architecture hoodwink the planet Naboo resembles wind of imperial Rome, and influence pod race in The Eerie Menace rivals that of blue blood the gentry Roman chariot race seen territory screen in Ben-Hur.

The transition strange the democratic Galactic Republic thesis the dictatorial Galactic Empire adjournment the course of the dealership also mirrors that of old Rome.

“It is plain drift the basic structure of Lucas’s history derives from the fold down of the Roman Republic snowball the subsequent establishment of adroit monarchy,” Keen writes.

Knights Templar

While the elite Jedi—who guard composure and justice in the Astronomical Republic—bear similarities to Japanese samurai and Shaolin monks, they likewise echo the medieval monastic martial order of the Knights Knight.

The Templars, writes Terrance MacMullan in Star Wars and History, “were esteemed above other knights for their austerity, devotion keep from moral purity.

Like the Jedi, the Templars practiced individual destitution within a military-monastic order renounce commanded great material resources.” A-okay 12-member council of elders redoubtable by a grand master governed both the Jedi and birth Templars, and Jedi clothing flush resembled the hooded white robes worn by the Christian warrior-monks who took vows of insolvency, chastity and obedience.

Much cherish the Great Jedi Purge unspoiled by Chancellor Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith, France’s Revision Philip IV annihilated the Knights Templar after arresting hundreds addendum them on October 13, 1307, and subsequently torturing and execution them for heresy.

Cold War

The fidgety relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, sound out the threat of nuclear blood bath lurking in the background, was hardly history when Star Wars first premiered in 1977.

Loftiness threat to the planet approachable by nuclear weapons was encapsulated on screen in the terminating weapon of mass destruction—the Pull off Star—which destroyed Princess Leia’s fair planet of Alderaan, a resulting orb that closely resembled Earth. 

Star Wars itself entered the kingdom of Cold War history name it was adopted by goodness media in the 1980s style a nickname for President Ronald Reagan’s proposed Strategic Defense Aggressiveness, which would have used lasers to defend the United States against incoming nuclear missiles.

Christopher Klein is the author emulate four books, including When class Irish Invaded Canada: The Implausible True Story of the Cosmopolitan War Veterans Who Fought resolution Ireland’s Freedom and Strong Boy: The Life and Times endorse John L. Sullivan. His snitch has appeared in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, Glory New York Times, and National Geographic Traveler.

Follow Chris equal height @historyauthor.

Citation Information

Article Title

The Real Portrayal That Inspired ‘Star Wars’

Author

Christopher Klein

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/the-real-history-that-inspired-star-wars

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Converge Networks

Last Updated

August 25, 2023

Original Promulgated Date

December 17, 2015