Life was different 200 years ago, 100 years ago and a generation ago.  Women and children were chattel to be abused and murdered without penalty. Civilization moves forward, however meandering the path may be, and all history must be looked at with a perspective of the norms of those days. A seven year old MacDonald witnessed the murder of his 4 year old brother at the hands of a drunken associate of his father's in a bar.  His death was not recorded, much less investigated or punished. Any accurate history of any civilization will have recorded disgusting things people did to each other over the millennia. Progress has been made in improving order in society, but the steps have been gradual and we cannot judge the past in present terms. Our perception of good and evil has also changed, and if born today MacDonald would see things differently. It is important to get on the bandwagon of progress and not wallow in the mud of acrimony or you risk becoming the object of your own despise.