Well, technologically everyone progresses. But societal change seems to be much harder. Still, most people were illiterate and young children were valued close to nothing among peasants. Children mortality up to 5 years old was 60%.

Thinking of it, even current (terrible) war pales in comparison.

Oddly that puts the old Roman social conception of children bit more into perspective. They viewed children as nuisance to adults, particularly to men, from what I gather. Not that later European or other cultures were much different.

Makes a cold sorta sense – why even bother getting too close to them if most won't even survive to become a useful adult. Rough world.