The Average Life Expectancy Was 30

People had a life expectancy of no more than 30 during the majority of our history, according to a frequently cited statistic. Due to another widely-held historical misconception that it was a period of nearly constant fighting and widespread misery for the populace, it seems obvious. It's amazing that the ordinary human could even reach 30 in that kind of environment.

Even though we'll probably never know the exact life expectancy at any period in our history, there isn't any reason to think that it was considerably lower than it is now, with the exception of children. The legend of the witches being burned at the Salem trials probably originated from its comparison to the European witch trials, where being burned at the stake was still a common punishment for suspected witchcraft up to the 18th century.