you have to remember that alot of technology we now possess is the result of aggression, the computer, satellite communications, concrete, mass production, steel hull ships, trains. These are all technologies created originally only for aggressive purposes, or were whose developments were greatly sped up by aggression.

A culture which does not compete, and aggression is a form of competition, does not advance. Look at Australian aborigines, Native Americans, look at the Gauls, Pict and Celts, in Roman era europe. All of these were predated by more aggressive competitive cultures.

Everyone needs to consider this when their making statements like, if it weren't for the violence of the middle ages, or other warlike periods, we would be more advanced. When in fact in many areas without war we would be less advanced. Not saying that a more peaceful less advanced culture would be a bad thing, just that in my opinion it would not be a more advanced culture, technologically speaking.