Has the World Ever Enjoyed Total Peace in the Last Two Thousand Years?

It's unlikely that the world has ever experienced a period of total peace over the last two thousand years. This question is often met with a resounding 'no,' and there are several reasons for this, one of the primary being our nature as primates.

We Are Primates, and Our Nature Spurs Conflict

We are primates, and our history has shown us that we are territorial creatures who form groups or troupes. These groups compete and engage in conflicts to assert dominance and secure resources. Modern civilization seems to have brought a level of organization to these troupes, allowing us to form larger groups known as nations. While this has helped in reducing the scale and intensity of warfare, it has not entirely prevented internal strife and breakdowns that lead to the disintegration of nations.

Conflicts and Human Nature

Conflicts have always been a part of human history, and it's imperative to consider that documentation only goes back so far. However, there is evidence of conflicts even before written records. Ancient human societies often had to deal with rivalries over natural resources, territory, and other valuable assets. For instance, one tribe might desire something that another tribe possesses, leading to conflict.

Historical Peace Periods: Near Approximations

The Pax Romana and Pax Britannia come close to representing periods of relative peace in history. During the Pax Romana, which lasted roughly from 27 BC to 180 AD, the Roman Empire experienced a significant period of stability and peace, facilitated by a strong legal and penal system that deterred aggression. Similarly, the Pax Britannia, which lasted from the early 19th century until the outbreak of World War I, saw the British Empire dominate global trade and establish a relatively stable order.

While these periods of peace were achieved through strict enforcement of rules, they were far from absolute. The sure knowledge that violations would lead to severe consequences was the driving force behind maintaining the peace.

War and Conflict: An Inescapable Part of Life

Conflict and war are intrinsic parts of our existence. Even on a broader scale, from the beginning of time until now, the universe has been characterized by conflict. For instance, the vast majority of species, including ants, have engaged in conflict for millions of years. As George Santayana famously said, 'Only the dead have seen the end of war,' indicating that conflict is an ever-present aspect of life.

While it's true that the past five hundred years have seen significant advancements in human civilization and technology, and while the last two world wars did bring about an unprecedented period of relative peace (given the massive costs they had on the involved nations), it's still important to recognize that armed conflicts have continued. The costs of these wars motivated nations to avoid further conflicts, but did not eliminate them entirely.

Conclusion

Despite the occasional glances at global tranquility, the world has never truly enjoyed a sustained period of total peace. Conflict and war continue to be an inescapable part of our existence, shaped by our primal nature and the complex web of human interactions and relationships. Understanding this, societies can work towards minimizing conflict and improving the mechanisms that promote and sustain peace, even if achieving total peace remains an ideal that's difficult to reach.