I’m also curious to know how the statistics are put together.

Are these fewer deaths absolute numbers? Or are they measured in any way with the estimated populations at the times of the wars of the past?

From when have they been examined?

The last century, that of mechanised warfare, brought violent death upon the species unlike that ever seen, by a long, long shot. Certainly any statistic measured since then will show a huge dip.

Also, what is the definition of ‘war’? The article makes reference to a past war in Uganda. But nothing of Rwanda. Or of what is currently, horrifically going on in Congo. Or of any other man-on-man violence permeating the planet.

It would seem the article is singling out interstate or civil wars to focus on inter-regional, stateless kind of wars. This is obviously a mistake if it is to indicate that we are becoming a less violent species.

We are becoming a more aware species, I think. And with that, there is some hope that we might begin to try improving our lot. On the other hand, we may very well bugger things up, sooner than we think, before we can take the next step to enlightenment.