It started in Greece, with violent austerity protests.
Then the global unrest really took off when Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia on December 17, 2011.
Then the protests spread like a fire through the Arab world. Journalists called it the "Arab Spring," but it seemed even larger than that.
It was.
Austerity measures from Western governments prompted a similar response: widespread unrest and, in some places, complete upheaval.
If it seems like clashes with cops and/or government troops has been a global phenomenon over the last three years, that's because it has.
Former conservative minister Kostis Hatzidakis is covered with blood after about 200 leftists attacked him with stones and sticks, shouting: "Thieves! Shame on you!" in central Athens, December 15, 2010.
A riot cop faces down an angry protester in Tunisia, January 2011.
Egyptian protestors retreat from the violence in January 2011.
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