Why were humans considerably shorter hundreds of years ago?

Question

I was wondering why humans were shorter hundreds of years ago. And why homes were built with shorter ceilings

Answer 1

The most important factor would have been poor nutrition, which would cause the people's height to be less than it is today. However, I suspect that several additional factors might account for the shorter ceilings and shorter doorways in common folks' homes. One, there was probably a poor understanding of the concept of fresh air and the need for the extra ceiling height to add to the room's air supply. Two, the cost of materials or the difficulty of getting building materials might have played a part. Three, ordinary people probably didn't have hanging light fixtures (with candles, of course). Four, the use of short doorways in colder climates would trap extra heat in the rooms near the ceilings. (Consider the classic igloo design.)

Rich people's houses and churches were, of course, exceptions to the general rule of low ceilings and doorways.

Answer 2

Could also been the temperature. The shorter and thicker you are the better you keep your heat in. So since the world has gotten warmer since the last ice age I can see people could get taller to adapt to it.
Could also be the growth hormones they put in everything we eat too.
The height of ceilings is just a matter of taste I think.

Answer 3

They did not have our wonderful government who in the early to mid 1900's started the American feeding frenzie by actualy fronting the origin of sliced bread. These genius leaders wanted bigger warriors for future wars. And they got it and now have spent years telling us to stop eating. Just think if we were small like that now? Talk about a little footprint! We would need less food, make less garbage, crowds wouldnt be as crowded and boy would our intimacy change. If you ask me we are the infirmed. By our sheer size we are handicapped.

Answer 4

a) It's mostly dietary. People who don't get enough protein in their diets as children don't reach their full potential heights.

b) "Trows" and certain other genetically short peoples were pretty much exterminated by waves of invasion of taller, more agressive people migrating from elsewhere.

Answer 5

Absolutely. Phenotypic expression. Bad diets, disease, constant shortage of food for a balanced diet, etc.
Animals grow poorly when fed poorly. Ask any farmer. So do we.

Answer 6

A better diet leads to growth - the healthier you are the taller you may grow.

Answer 7

Poor Nutrition & replicative fading due to inbreeding

Answer 8

Diet.