This is indeed a very, very broad question. There are however a few periods/writers/artists which spring to my mind reading this question. The examples I'll give won't answer whether or not people 'feared death', but how massive death/destruction caused shifts in culture & thought. Keep in mind it's all European/western thinking and history.

-The arrival of the plague in Italy in the 14th century. Specifically Florence. There's been a lot of literature/study on this area because the stories of Bocaccio's Decamerone take place in and around the city. The widespread destruction and death caused by the plague altered the 'moral fabric' of florentine society, making it more cruel and simultaneously what we would consider sexually liberal (i.e. morally degenerate at the time). People no longer cared about having long lives but rather about having fun/good lives.

-The thirty years' war. One of the most devastating wars in history. Lead to the peace of westphalia (1648). Remember that date and event, IMO it is one of the most important things to have ever happened (I'm not alone on this one). The peace established the concept of national sovereignty, which is still the very basis of international relations today. It also significantly diminshed the power of the church, laying the groundwork for the separation of church and state (one nation was no longer allowed to dictate its faith to another. The highest authority was now, by law, the ruler/government). For artistry of the time, see Jacques Callot's 'miseries of war' series.

-The French revolution & Napoleonic Wars (I like to refer to Francisco Goya here, the effects the war had on his mind and art). We all know that these events were absolutely groundbreaking on many levels. What I think is most important in relation to your question however is how we started thinking about war. See: Clausewitz' treatise on war. Karl started wracking his brain on this after the army he was a part of was absolutely demolished by Napoleon. His legacy in two sentences: 'war is the continuation of politics through military/other means' & 'victory is the creation of a better political reality'. Gave impetus to the formulation of the 'total krieg/total war' which we came to know in their ultimate manifestations: World War I and World War II. Still an immensely important/ the most important figure in military theory today.

-1990>. Very recent change. The cause can be sought in the massive death and destruction caused by the WW's, the fear of nuclear annihilation and the long peace we've enjoyed in the west. Refer yourself to Loup Francart's 'Maîtriser la violence' (1999). His thesis is that we're drifting away from seeing violence as a means to an end, let alone a legitimate one. Rather, we see violence as 'the problem', prompting us to try and contain conflict environments and formulate a sort of 'counter-war' strategy. Bonus: mr. Francart expected that the west would be confronted by enemies which would completely ignore international agreements like the geneva convention while the west would attempt to uphold them. i.e. irregulars fighting by any means necessary. Sounds familiar?

As to how the individual perceived death and the fear thereof in all these different times? It varies. I think the shift that's occured since the world wars is the most significant, as now there seems to be an almost universal loathing of war, violence and death in the west whereas at the start of world war 1, even 14-16 year old kids would willingly, gladly, go to the trenches (lying about their age) to fight & die for king/country/glory. The contrast couldn't be more stark.

This is a very broad question, but as you are looking at development of perception, do you have a specific region in mind, here?