While wars are still waged today and atrocities still occur, many argue that this is actually the most peaceful period of humankind.  Is this true? And if so, why is this the case?  Is society’s inherent desire for peace higher than it was in ancient and medieval times?  Is the value of peace and protecting human life given a greater premium than it was in the past?  Are our values fundamentally different than they were in prior centuries and millennia?  Were power, dominance and legacy valued more greatly in ancient and medieval times?  Or rather, is it not so much that our values have shifted, but more so that the framework of modern society has more checks and balances to keep power and wars in check? Professor Keith Bradley joins the podcast. Keith Bradley's latest book on Hadrian - https://www.amazon.ca/Marguerite-Yourcenars-Hadrian-Writing-Emperor/dp/1487548818 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.