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To: DreamingWest
we’re talking dead at 55 in the middle ages for sure

Ran across some interesting stats from the early modern period (1500s). They were about the marriages of peasants in Central Germany.

The average age of marriage for a male was 30 years old. This was because a guy generally couldn't marry till he inherited the farm. This implies his father, who himself got married around 30, was living on average well into his 60s.

The very low numbers tossed around for average life expectancy are generally skewed drastically by child mortality. If every adult lives to 60 and you have 50% child mortality, you have "average life expectancy" of 30 years.

15 posted on 11/13/2010 12:51:20 AM PST by Sherman Logan
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To: Sherman Logan

You are correct concerning men.

My German greatgrandfather had four wives; most died due to complications involving childbirth.

If a woman could survive childbirth then usually she could look forward to a long life. Nuns live the longest lifetimes in any time period. I’ve always found that fact interesting.


34 posted on 11/13/2010 6:48:33 PM PST by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT!)
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