I am interested in the early history of humanity before the era of written records which began about four thousand years ago. Apparently homo neanderthalensis (Neanderthals) thrived approximately from 180,000 years ago until 30,000 years ago. Anthropologists are not certain why they died out, although one theory is they were not capable of adapting to the Ice Age. Another theory is that homo sapiens killed them off.

There does not seem to be much doubt that homo sapiens are an incredibly-brutal and savage race. Our earliest histories are filled with wars and destruction. Any list of the most famous ancients studied in schools and seemingly admired today includes Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, and Charlemagne, all of whom were most noted for building empires, which required invading other countries and conquering native peoples. That is a euphemism for killing and pillaging.

Do not fool yourself into thinking that is merely an ancient problem. Recent history always includes Napolean Bonaparte and the British Empire, modern versions of those ancient warriors. (By the way, has anybody but me ever wondered how the British could possibly have an empire when they never even had an emperor?)

And look at a history of the past century. “Highlights” of American history include World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, and several wars with Iraq. One history teacher mentioned to me that you cannot possibly study history unless you study wars. Isn’t that a sorry situation?

You would think that after 30,000 years humans would have matured at least a bit as a race. Sorry, we’re still the same savage, destructive, self-centered homo sapiens who killed off the Neanderthals. Only this time we seem determined to kill off ourselves instead.