Before the Romans arrived, many Germanic communities had a very low average life expectancy — often around 30 years, mostly because so many children didn’t survive early childhood.

When the Romans came, the numbers slowly changed. Not because people suddenly stopped aging — but because fewer died young.

Better agriculture, more stable food supplies, grain storage, new cooking methods, salt, oil, wine, and a more varied diet made a difference. Add roads, trade, baths, and basic sanitation, and everyday life became less fragile.

If you survived childhood in Roman times, your chances of reaching 50 or 60 improved a lot.

Food, infrastructure, and habits matter more than we often think.

History isn’t just wars — it’s what people ate, how they lived, and how long they got to stay.

#history #romanempire #germanictribes #foodculture #lifeexpectancy #ancientworld