Reassessing Historical Atrocities

This chapter critically examines the notion that the 20th century was the deadliest in history, questioning the validity of commonly cited death tolls from events like World Wars I and II. It raises concerns over the methodology used to evaluate and compare historical violence, exposing potential exaggerations in casualty figures from earlier conflicts such as the Mongol conquests. Through a debate on statistical approaches and historical narratives, the chapter emphasizes the complexity of accurately assessing human suffering across different times and places.