Actually some people lived a very long time! and this idea that ppl lived short lives are manily those who were exposed to harsh working conditions. there are other sickness caused by plague, flu's or maybe there is a famine. If you look at ppl who live in rural india, asia, africa, south amercia and other isolated spots were ppl live very simply & cannot afford & do not need western medicine because they practice herbalism, many ppl live to well over 100 years old! It's actually the west who bring and carry diseases that indigenous ppls get sick!