1. Defined as intentionally using physical force to harm, violence kills 1.5 million people globally each year, according to the World Health Organization. From war zones to crime-ridden neighborhoods, we live in violent times.
2. Or do we? The murder rate has plummeted thirtyfold since the 13th century, according to figures from Europe, which had the most extensive records — though researchers suspect global rates followed a similar downward trend.
3. Deaths from war have also been on a steady slide relative to the size of the population: War killed about 2 percent of people in the 17th century, but only 0.7 percent in the 20th century.
