Pestilence vs. Conquest — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 9, 2024
Pestilence represents widespread disease and death, often symbolized by a figure on a pale horse in mythology, while Conquest signifies the act of overcoming and gaining control, typically depicted by a figure on a white horse.
Difference Between Pestilence and Conquest
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Pestilence is commonly associated with epidemics and catastrophic plagues that devastate populations and agriculture, reflecting a natural or divine punishment. Conquest, on the other hand, involves the subjugation and assimilation of territories or groups, often driven by political, military, or cultural motives.
Pestilence leads to widespread suffering and mortality, severely impacting social and economic structures; whereas conquest reshapes geopolitical landscapes, creating new power dynamics and often altering cultural identities.
While pestilence is indiscriminate, affecting all levels of society, conquest is usually a deliberate action undertaken by states or leaders to expand influence or territory.
The historical impact of pestilence includes events like the Black Death, which dramatically altered European society; in contrast, conquests such as those by Alexander the Great or the Roman Empire have defined much of world history through expansion and colonization.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Widespread disease and death
Overcoming and gaining control
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Symbolic Rider
Pale horse
White horse
Impact
Social, economic disruption
Political, territorial expansion
Nature
Indiscriminate, natural
Deliberate, human-driven
Historical Examples
Black Death, Spanish Flu
Roman conquests, Mongol invasions
Compare with Definitions
Pestilence
A condition or period marked by this affliction.
The year 1347 began the pestilence that changed Europe forever.
Conquest
Historical use in military context.
The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 reshaped British history.
Pestilence
Biblical reference as one of the Four Horsemen.
In the Book of Revelation, Pestilence rides a pale horse.
Conquest
An instance of overcoming an obstacle or challenge.
Her conquest of the mountain was a personal victory.
Pestilence
A fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
The village was decimated by a sudden pestilence.
Conquest
The act or process of conquering.
The conquest of the region took several decades.
Pestilence
Something that is considered harmful, destructive, or evil.
Corruption was a pestilence at the heart of the institution.
Conquest
A person whose affection or favor has been won.
He considered every successful date a conquest.
Pestilence
Figuratively, any widespread affliction or calamity.
The pestilence of misinformation spread unchecked.
Conquest
Something that is acquired through conquering, like territory.
The new conquests were added to his empire.
Pestilence
A usually fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.
Conquest
Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms. Military history provides many examples of conquest: the Roman conquest of Gaul, the Mauryan conquest of Afghanistan and of vast areas of the Indian subcontinent, the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire and various Arab conquests, all of which were successful in bringing foreign states under the conquerors' control.
Pestilence
A pernicious, evil influence or agent.
Conquest
The act or process of conquering
The Spanish conquest of Mexico.
The conquest of an infectious disease.
The conquest of shyness.
Pestilence
Any epidemic disease that is highly contagious, infectious, virulent and devastating.
Conquest
Something, such as territory, acquired by conquering.
Pestilence
(archaic) Anything harmful to morals or public order.
Conquest
A person or group whose affection or admiration has been gained
The pianist made a conquest of every audience on the tour.
Pestilence
Specifically, the disease known as the plague; hence, any contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating.
The pestilence That walketh in darkness.
Conquest
A person who has been seduced by another.
Pestilence
Fig.: That which is pestilent, noxious, or pernicious to the moral character of great numbers.
I'll pour this pestilence into his ear.
Conquest
Victory gained through combat; the subjugation of an enemy.
Pestilence
Any epidemic disease with a high death rate
Conquest
An act or instance of overcoming an obstacle.
Pestilence
A pernicious evil influence
Conquest
That which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or moral.
Conquest
The acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance; acquisition.
Conquest
(video games) A competitive mode found in first-person shooter games in which competing teams (usually two) attempt to take over predetermined spawn points labeled by flags.
Conquest
(archaic) To conquer.
Conquest
(marketing) To compete with an established competitor by placing advertisements for one's own products adjacent to editorial content relating to the competitor or by using terms and keywords for one's own products that are currently associated with the competitor.
Conquest
The act or process of conquering, or acquiring by force; the act of overcoming or subduing opposition by force, whether physical or moral; subjection; subjugation; victory.
In joys of conquest he resigns his breath.
Three years sufficed for the conquest of the country.
Conquest
That which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or moral.
Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home?
Conquest
The acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance; acquisition.
Conquest
The act of gaining or regaining by successful struggle; as, the conquest of liberty or peace.
Conquest
The act of conquering
Conquest
Success in mastering something difficult;
The conquest of space
Common Curiosities
What are the long-term effects of conquest on a society?
Conquest can lead to changes in culture, language, and governance in the conquered area.
What motivates conquest?
Conquest is typically motivated by political, economic, or strategic reasons.
Can pestilence result from conquest?
Yes, conquest can lead to pestilence through the spread of diseases in large, concentrated populations.
What are typical causes of pestilence?
Pestilence usually results from widespread diseases, often exacerbated by poor sanitation or dense populations.
Has conquest ever been beneficial to a society?
While often destructive, conquest has sometimes led to technological and cultural exchanges that benefited societies.
How do societies recover from pestilence?
Recovery often involves medical interventions, improved sanitation, and sometimes significant societal changes.
What role does technology play in preventing pestilence?
Advances in medical technology and sanitation have historically played crucial roles in mitigating pestilence.
What are examples of modern-day pestilence?
Modern examples include the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are there non-human examples of conquest?
In nature, invasive species can be seen as engaging in a form of conquest by dominating new ecosystems.
How do international laws affect conquest?
Modern international laws generally prohibit conquest, promoting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
