A Culture Of Death?

Question 1

Debate

Answer 1

People got better at handling violence
They found alternatives that reduced the need for war
‘Inner angel of mankind’

Question 2

War stats in the early modern period

Answer 2

Average number of wars went down
Duration of wars decreased
Casualties decreased in relative terms

Question 3

The Pinker thesis (2011)

Answer 3

In relative terms, violence decline (1300-2000)
Absolute number pf war-related casualties increased
But so did European and global population (from 80-800 million)

Question 4

Did people become more peaceful?

Answer 4

Probably not
Military revolution - pro-war 
Rise of the modern state - pro-war 
Rise of diplomacy - anti-war
Rise of commerce - anti-war

Question 5

A hansel and greater culture?

Answer 5

Almost all confessions justified war
Hierarchical relations and violence
Official punishments bloody and public

Question 6

Consequences of war

Answer 6

Social - interruption of life, malnutrition

Psychological - damage, insecurity

Question 7

Location is key

Answer 7

Some areas were plagued by war and passing armies. E.g. The Low Countries, Rhineland, Westphalia, Bavaria
Others less so e.g. Northwest germany

Question 8

Thirty years war population losses

Answer 8

High population losses in some patches in central, southwest and northwest

Question 9

Which areas suffered most heavily?

Answer 9

Arteries of commerce and trade
Focal regions such as coasts
Border and frontier regions

Question 10

Disease

Answer 10

Nearly 50% of children don’t live beyond 12 months
Lack of vaccination and hygiene
Diffferent mentality

Question 11

Conclusion

Answer 11

Early modern European culture was still a culture of violence
Culture of death?
But increasingly effective institutions of dealing with violence