The biggest battle on the earth was Mahabharata. Bhim tore off the chest of Dushashana with his bare hands and drank his blood. So, we did see our part of barbaric acts. Also, we hear about all these astra-shastra that were used in Ramayana and Mahabharata. I think Hindus perfected the art of warfare too.
What dragged the Hindu society down was the stupid Caste system. We officially declared that only 25% of the population (kshatriya) was fit as warriors. That too me is total BS. To say that because one was born in a Kshatriya family he had the aptitude and attitude necessary to fight or to lead an army is a joke. I think the urge to fight, to invade and to capture is independent of caste. I don't know why our 'perfect' ancestors didn't get it.
