It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
Niccolo Machiavelli
The victor will never be asked if he told the truth.
Adolph Hitler
Primitive man had to use his strength to overcome hunger and other basic needs, and in order to survive. He fought over small rations he could find, until he realized that hunting in a group and as a team, they could achieve better results. Cooperation meant sharing the spoil equally. However, there were those who were not able to join the hunt and needed a share, and that was the beginning of altruism. As man evolved, so did his brain. To facilitate hunting they made tools. This, coupled with agriculture (planting seed and growing and harvesting crops) put human being one-step above animals. In contrast with what we have been told repeatedly by our leaders and media, competition, greed, selfishness, and jealousy were not part of early men’s characters, and these traits were not (and are not) elements of human nature. However, there were always those individuals who had these qualities, but they have been of minorities. When such people were in command, they would instigate wars against other tribes. After many wars, some discovered that they could enslave prisoners of war (instead of killing them) and exploit slaves’ labor for their own benefits. Hence, slavery became another reason for wars, resulting subjugation of captured warriors and prisoners of war. As societies developed into civilizations, wars became a tool for ambitious leaders in order to expand their empire and benefit toil of others. In the advent of a big empire such as Iran, Greece, or Rome, the necessity of having a regular army was envisaged. In order to recruit people into such armies, nationalism (regarding the government or the king, not necessarily common people) was encouraged. Although the military was characterized to exist for defense of the mother nation, it has always been utilized for attacking weaker nations when opportunity arose. Ordinary people were still against wars, but they had no choice when the dictator forced them to join his army. Afterwards, in addition to nationalism, governments found religion, partition (race, religion, creed), and propaganda as suitable tools to persuade people into acquiescence. When there was no enemy, it became necessary to create one.
