The habit that Changed a Violent World
What Saved Humanity from Itself?
The Magic Pill That Ended the Dark Age
Medieval Europe — a land shrouded in mist, blood, and the cries of justice and folly. It was an age when humanity seemed to revel in its darkest instincts. Public executions drew crowds like festivals, with people gawking as bodies burned and heads rolled. They cheered as animals were maimed in cruel sport and nodded solemnly while real or imagined witches met fiery ends. The domestic sphere was far from serene — homes were places of tyranny, and children were not always seen as blessings but burdens that sometimes met tragic fates.
Like an unending storm, war raged across the continent, battering every kingdom, duchy, and hamlet. One might wonder if humanity was doomed to this endless cycle of cruelty. Was it a curse? A divine punishment? Or just the way of things? But then, something remarkable happened. The 18th century arrived, bringing not just wigs and powdered faces but a quiet revolution that changed the very fabric of society. Public executions became rare. Witch hunts fizzled out. The bloodlust for torture waned. Even the ever-thirsty gods of war seemed slightly appeased. Humanity began to unclench its fist, to pause before striking.
