At its height, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom controlled most of southern China from its Nanjing capital. What started as a small sect of violent Christians quickly transformed into a rampaging army of more than 2 million. The deadliest civil war in human history, the Taiping Rebellion broke out in the middle of the 19th century. It's name was the Taiping Rebellion, and it claimed anywhere from 20 million to a jaw-dropping 70 million lives (via History). It all took place in a single country: China. Although precise death tolls are hard to measure, the conflict that's most likely killed more than nearly any other in history wasn't some global dust-up or even a continent-wide royal rumble. But what planet-engulfing conflict could possibly hold second place? If you're thinking World War I or the Mongol Conquests, prepare to be shocked. What's the second deadliest conflict in human history? Without a doubt, World War II takes the top spot, ending an absolute minimum of 60 million lives and most likely several tens of millions more (via the National World War II Museum).

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