Quote:
Originally posted by Hakan@Feb 20 2005, 07:30 PM
I'm not arguing that the life expectancy hasn't gone up since the beginning of the industrial revolution until now.
Pre industrial revolution is another matter.
|
I still don't buy it, and it's still contrary to everything I've read.
Some admittedly quick research:
From UofW Class lecture notes:
Pre-Industrial Revolution
· Life expectancy was low (between 20 and 30 years old).
· High infant mortality and child mortality: only two thirds
survived to age 1 and one half still alive by age 5
Somewhere else
"In Western Europe, in the preindustrial Middle Ages, man's life expectancy was 30 years. In the nineteenth century, Europe's population grew by 300 percent — which is the best proof of the fact that for the first time in human history, industry gave the great masses of people a chance to survive."
They're not the best sources, but I don't feel like looking any more.
The ball's in your court to refute them