The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined

Imagine stepping back into a time so distant it feels like a foreign country — a world where violence was woven into the very fabric of daily life. Far from the modern illusion that we live in uniquely violent times, history reveals a strikingly different truth: violence has declined dramatically over thousands of years. The frozen body of a man discovered in the Alps, known as Ötzi the Iceman, tells a chilling story. Embedded in his shoulder is an arrowhead, a silent witness to a violent death some 5,000 years ago. His wounds, the blood of several others on his weapons, and the evidence of a brutal clash between tribes paint a vivid picture of a world where life was often short and brutal.

Moving forward in time, the epics of ancient Greece depict wars that spared no one — men, women, children, even infants were victims of relentless slaughter. These were not the sanitized conflicts of modern sensibilities but total wars, where entire cities were razed and populations extinguished. Women were taken as spoils, and the horrors of battle were described in vivid, gruesome detail.

The Hebrew Bible, a text revered by billions, also reveals a world steeped in sanctioned violence. Tales of divine commands for genocide, brutal punishments, and slavery are woven throughout its pages. This sacred text reflects the values and realities of ancient Near Eastern societies, where human life was often secondary to obedience and authority.

These glimpses into the past challenge the comforting narratives that history was a peaceful progression toward civilization. Instead, they remind us that the past was indeed a foreign country — one where violence was a constant companion. Yet, as we will discover in the chapters ahead, this narrative is only half the story. For alongside this grim history, there is a remarkable tale of progress — a long, uneven, but unmistakable decline in violence that has brought us to a more peaceful present.

As we move forward, we will explore the forces that have driven this transformation, the psychological underpinnings of violence, and the better angels of our nature that have helped us build a more peaceful world. Let us begin this journey by understanding the very roots of violence and how it emerged in our evolutionary history.