"quality of life" can only be determined by a person (s) living in each frame of historic reference, not someone else living in a completely different historic frame of reference. To do otherwise is to impose upon those historic peoples our own measures of "quality of life" which as we know all too well from prior discussions on this board lead to incorrect and misleading conclusions.

Dennis,
I think that the quality of medical help, technological knowledge and educational opportunity however can be compared. Also time and man power hours worked, etc.

As for were they more or less happier than we? Well my grandfather in North Carolina worked just liked his ancestors had for ages. Now, I'm not rich but I have much more material goods than he did...still in this push and shove computer age, am I happier or have more peace of mind than folks like him? Probably we do not on the whole.

Cump.