The act of terrorism can be traced back to the 1st century A.D. when Jewish rebel groups, known as Zealots, attacked Roman soldiers and destroyed Roman property (History 2005). The term assassin dates to 1090-1275, when a Shi'ite Muslim sect, known as Nizari Isma'ilis, fought Sunni Muslims and during the Medieval Christendom resisting occupation during the Crusades, 1095-1291 (History 2005). The Nizari Islma'ilis spread terror in the form of murder, including women and children; this brotherhood of Assassins committed terror in order to gain paradise and seventy-two virgins if killed (History 2005). It was 1793-1794, during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, that the modern development of terrorism began and the term 'terrorism' was first coined (History 2005). Over the past two centuries, terrorism has been used by various groups to achieve political goals and has become a tool for liberation, oppression, and international global politics (History 2005).
             There are as many definitions of terrorism as there are terrorists groups. One scholar defines terrorism as a term constructed during the European Enlightenment Era, and is used to inspire and mobilize the national soul and establish the sovereignty of political boundaries-states (Oliverio 2005). Another author notes, "
             In an ideal scientific world an episode of 'terrorism' would be
             identical in each circumstance, historical reality cannot be
             tested under laboratory conditions, especially when that
             reality involves violence. Terrorism is an ambiguous variable
             not easily measured or quantified, in part because there are
             multiple forms of terrorism, and they are easily confused with
             other styles of violence (Lauderdale 2005).
             According to James Rodgers, professor of social sciences at Saint Mary's University in Winona, the definition depends on one's perspective and ideology, however most experts ag...