The world is said to have evolved, and everything from the environment, plants, and animals with it. There have been different theories about evolution, but it simply refers to a significant change in the way of life of a biological population along with changing the average human lifespan.
Even humans are not new to this concept as we have also witnessed several changes in our heritable characteristics. In fact, human evolution is quite fascinating, as there is no doubt that we are the most evolved on the planet.
Humans have come a long way from the days of the early men, which were the first modern humans to walk the earth thousands of years ago. Of course, there have been many significant changes in our way of life, and there have been claims that the human lifespan has been altered as well.
Do humans have a longer life expectancy today? If so, what are the factors that have contributed to this cause? This article will address these queries by taking an in-depth look into the human lifespan throughout history.
Has the Human Lifespan Changed?
Yes, the human lifespan has experienced multiple changes. Several factors affect the longevity of living beings, and humans are no exception. “Lifespan” is a term that refers to the total amount of time a living thing is alive.
In simple terms, it is the total period between the birth and death of any organism. It can also refer to the total time an individual is expected to live in relation to the longevity of previous creatures of similar species. The lifespan of any specie is derived by calculating the average time they spend alive.
The lifespan of different beings can change from time to time, depending on several factors, including their way of life and other things that affect life and death. The life expectancy of humans has increased relatively, and we have indeed witnessed many developments from what our ancestors had.
The Lifespan of the Early Men
The popular narrative that the early men live a much shorter life than we do today is correct. However, the reasons for this narrative may not be completely accurate. The average lifespans of our ancestors from the bronze and iron ages over 15,000 years ago were relatively short, between 25 to 35 years.
Of course, the reasons are not so far-fetched if you consider all the factors involved. It goes beyond the common belief that they lived short lives because they had to fight off wild cats and strange beasts.
Indeed, they had more frequent encounters with wild animals that often got brutal. But their way of life certainly played a more significant role in why they had a shorter lifespan. They lacked sufficient knowledge in medicine and had limited resources to make their lives easier.
They were more exposed to germs and infectious diseases and had little or no means of protecting themselves from the harsh weather conditions.
Average Human Lifespan Today
You would agree that humans have come a long way, with immense developments that have helped improve our way of life. The human lifespan has also experienced significant improvements through stages known as milestones.
Today, the average human lifespan is well beyond 70 years, with life expectancy at birth up to 72 years in many parts of the world. However, it is noteworthy that the human lifespan did not just skyrocket overnight but has gone through a series of improvements.
Many factors have contributed to this rise in longevity, and perhaps the improved lifestyle is the most significant. Here, let’s look at some primary factors responsible for the improved life expectancy today.
- Improved Health Care: As humans evolved, they better understood the diseases that plagued them and ways to cure those diseases. Years and series of research and development have led to the improved health care we have today, not to mention the inputs of modern technology. There’s hardly any disease that cannot be cured today, and there are ways to live through the few without a cure.
- Sanitation: Infectious diseases caused by germs and bacteria were the leading causes of the shorter lifespan among early humans. However, all that has changed, and we have since discovered the benefits of maintaining and sanitizing ourselves and the environment. Sanitation helps prevent contact with germs and diseases, and there’s no doubt that it also helps promote healthy living.
- Improved Nutrition: Well, thanks to more research, we now have a clear idea of which food to eat for the best nutrients. We also now understand the need to avoid specific food at specific times, and our foods are now processed better. Proper nutrition helps keep body parts strong and energized while also helping the body develop potent antibodies that are more immune to diseases.
- Technology: The advent of technology is a significant highlight in human evolution because it has triggered a series of developments. The importance of technology in today’s world can not be spoken about enough, and it has made life more manageable and comfortable in many ways. Today, technology is used in almost every aspect of human lives, and its contributions are immense. There’s no doubt that it has contributed to this improved life expectancy and longevity.
What to Expect
Indeed, humans are the most innovative and most advanced creatures on earth, and there’s no limit to our imaginations. Therefore, it is only ideal to expect more in terms of the way of life.
The world is also experiencing rapid development in every aspect, and it is all aimed at improving the comfort and standard of human lives. Hence, there’s every indication that the average human lifespan will continue to improve along with life expectancy.
Conclusion
Humans are naturally relentless, so we often seek means to make our lives more comfortable regardless of the comfort we already enjoy. Perhaps, this is why we have come a long way from the days of our ancestors that lived relatively short lives.
The longevity we enjoy today results from the different stages of evolution experienced, and there’s no doubt that the human lifespan will continue to change with time.
