Historically speaking, anti-war sentiment is relatively recent. Before 1800 wars were depicted as grandiose naval or land battles in scenes peopled by mythological heroes or those who were carving out a place in the history books. The characters embodied the kind of strength that is revealed in the thick of battle, whether on the side of the victor or the conquered. There is violence, but the individuals remain glorious, the crowds are ready for action and the battlefields are majestic.
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