In his new book Manthropology, Peter McAllister argues that human physical strength and endurance have deteriorated over time. John Mehaffey writes for Reuters:
McAllister blames technology that, for all the good it has done, has reduced the physical demands of human existence. Even our comparatively recent ancestors could best us:
Link via Jules Crittenden | Image: American Museum of Natural History
Many prehistoric Australian aboriginals could have outrun world 100 and 200 meters record holder Usain Bolt in modern conditions.
Some Tutsi men in Rwanda exceeded the current world high jump record of 2.45 meters during initiation ceremonies in which they had to jump at least their own height to progress to manhood.
Any Neanderthal woman could have beaten former bodybuilder and current California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in an arm wrestle.
McAllister blames technology that, for all the good it has done, has reduced the physical demands of human existence. Even our comparatively recent ancestors could best us:
* Roman legions completed more than one-and-a-half marathons a day carrying more than half their body weight in equipment.
* Athens employed 30,000 rowers who could all exceed the achievements of modern oarsmen.
* Australian aboriginals threw a hardwood spear 110 meters or more (the current world javelin record is 98.48).
Link via Jules Crittenden | Image: American Museum of Natural History
What? Cunning beats strength? Why didn't someone tell me!!
Rubbish, they used a woomera to get distance and it wasn't anywhere near 110 meters.
I looked at a variety of sources for the Roman march, I didn't find one reference stating 1.5 marathons per day (40 miles). Most sources say something like "During the summer the soldiers had to march 18.4 miles (29.6 km) in five hours.".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_army / The largest distance I could find was a reference to 25 miles, and nothing about 40 miles.
Soldiers still do this stuff when required to. EG:
"After disembarking from ships at San Carlos on East Falkland, on 21 May 1982, Royal Marines and members of the Parachute Regiment yomped (and tabbed) with their equipment across the islands, covering 56 miles in three days carrying 80 pound loads."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loaded_march
Finally, think of the tough nuts who existed at the start of the 20th century. No interweb or microwave meals for them. Could they really run faster than Usain Bolt? It's simple to check the speeds and athletic records from that time and find that this man is a delusional nut case.
I think this author has a chip on his shoulder about something or other.
http://johnhawks.net/weblog/topics/energetics/modern-man-wimp-mcallister-2009.html
If the Tutsis exceeded the world records, wouldn't THAT be the world record?
Weren't the earliest homininds nearly four foot tall? They can really beat Schwarzenegger at anything?
Anthropology must be one of those "take my word for it" sciences.
In our modern world we don't *need* to be incredibly strong and fit and powerful to survive, but that doesn't make us wimps.
It is innate in our being.
Rocky: the difference is that the Roman legions did it marching while the marathon guy supossedly did it jogging. And most historicians think that what it really did was going from Athens to Sparta to carry a message, then back from Sparta to Athens (153 miles, which he did in three days!!!), and then to Maraton, to tell the Spartan reply, and then from Maraton to Athens to carry the news of the victory. And in the original sources there is no telling of him dying after it.
He was called in Athens "the horse man" because he delivered messages to long distances faster than a horse (he has to rest less) but he would take the money paid to horse-messengers anyway :)
While I agree with most of the comments here that the linked article is basically junk science, it's certainly possible that a smaller creature could be significantly stronger than a human. See this article which discusses (briefly) the general strength of chimpanzees, due to different muscle structure: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2/can-a-90-lb-chimp-clobber-a-full-grown-man
I find chimps a lot less cute since I read that.
Seriously, we spend most of our formative years getting educated, not doing physically demanding work or hunting. With technology, the physically weaker can not only survive, but thrive. Those born sickly can grow and thrive. Given all that, I can imagine on average we are physically weaker as a species. But I'd be willing to bet the best athletes we have today would kick the crap outta the best of the times the article talks about.
yeah, but they didn't die because of the physical intensity. Sure, it didn't help, but the average life expectancy was due to famine, war, crime, and disease. Teenagers who grew up and worked on farms and factories during the 20s and 30s did some real hard labor and their generation is living beyond 80.
I do think though a lot of people have to put down the cell phone and go out and do some work because it's really annoying when you see people tired at the end of the day from a desk job, sitting with his brief case on his lap, falling asleep on the subway, and the construction worker is standing with his bag of tools, and lunch box.
The thesis here is weak sauce.