Do YOU hate modern life? 57% of us would rather live in another decade - and the swinging 60s come out on top
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A survey revealed 57% of adults wish they could live in another time. One in five said they'd rather live in the 1960s (model Twiggy pictured in 1967)
Despite the current advancements in medicine, technology and transport, almost 60 per cent of British people would rather live in any other era than the current one.
And when asked which decade they'd prefer to live in, one in five voted for the 1960s.
The decade was also voted as one of the most prosperous in the whole of human history, beating the entire 19th century, and the Roaring Twenties.
Unsurprisingly, the darkest period of history was voted as the Black Death, which killed up to an estimated 200 million people during the 14th century.
The findings were revealed as part of the Yesterday Historical Report commissioned to mark the launch of show Inquisition on the TV channel, Yesterday.
The 1960s were seen as great because of the widespread revolution and change in politics, music and society around the world.
A total of 57 per cent of people said they wish they didn't live in the current day.
Behind the 1960s was Ancient Rome in second place at 9.9 per cent.
A further 9.8 per cent said that rock and roll from the 1950s had the biggest draw, while 9.2 per cent also revealed they wanted to experience the roaring 1920s, and 3.2 per cent longed for the 1930s.
Results were taken from a survey of more than 2,000 British adults, with support from historian Richard Felix.
The 1960s were also voted as one of the most prosperous in human history. The decade was seen as great because of the widespread revolution and change in politics, music and society around the world. The Beatles in 1964 pictured, from left to right is John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison and Ringo Starr
The findings shine a spotlight on the darkest and the most prosperous periods of human history, as well as the top inventions and discoveries.
Although the 1960s was the most recent period to make the prosperous list, the Roman period, between 27 BC to 476 AD, was voted top.
This was because the Roman army put an end to small wars, allowing people to farm and trade in peace.
Results were taken from a survey of 2,000 adults. The Roman period, between 27BC to 476 AD, was voted the most prosperous. This was because the Roman army (reconstruction pictured) put an end to small wars, allowing people to farm and trade in peace. They also introduced town planning, baths, toilets and fresh water
The darkest period of history was voted as the Black Death, which killed up to an estimated 200 million people during the 14th century (illustration pictured left). It received half of the votes. Tudor England, between 1485 and 1603, including Henry VIII (illustration pictured right) received 19.7 per cent of the votes
They also introduced town planning, baths, drains, toilets and fresh water supplies.
Behind the Black Death, which sat the top of the darkest period list with more than half the votes, was the Inquisitions of the 12th Century to the 18th Century.
During this time, thousands of people were arrested, tried and executed for heresy by the Roman Catholic Church.
Torture methods such as water boarding, castration and beatings were used to extract confessions.
SURVEY REVEALS 10 MOST PROSPEROUS, AND DARKEST ERAS IN HISTORY
TOP 10 DARKEST PERIODS IN HISTORY
1. Black Death (14th Century) - 50.8 per cent
The Black Death resulted in the deaths of an estimated 75 to 200 million people. Symptoms included painful blisters, acute fever, vomiting of blood and eventually death.
2. The Inquisitions (12th Century - 18th Century) - 45.4 per cent
Thousands of innocent people were arrested, tried and executed for heresy by the Roman Catholic Church. Torture methods such as water boarding, castration and beatings were used to extract confessions.
3. World War II (1939 - 1945) - 42 per cent
It resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities, making it the deadliest in human history.
4. World War 1 (1914 - 1918) - 41.6 per cent
More than nine million combatants were killed; a casualty rate exacerbated by the advances in technology.
5. Dark Ages (500 - 1000 AD) - 38.9 per cent
This was a period of great upheaval, constant war, horrendous plague, and stagnant cultural growth, due to the invasions of barbarians. It is estimated 100 million people died due to war, plague or hunger.
6. The Roman Empire (27 BC - 476 AD) - 32.6 per cent
The Romans punished and whipped slaves. Roman Emperors were known for being brutal in their enforcement of their religious views.
7. The Witch Craze (15th Century – 18th Century) - 31.8 per cent
During this period, society was consumed by a panic over alleged witches. Witch-hunts resulted in the trial, torture, and execution of tens of thousands of victims, about three-quarters of whom were women.
8. Tudor England (1485 - 1603) - 19.7 per cent
Henry VIII, Queen Mary and Elizabeth I between them arrested thousands of people to face the threat of trial and execution. Motivated either by power or religious zeal they burnt those at the stake who opposed their authority.
9. French Revolution (1789) - 18.8 per cent
Over 17,000 people were officially tried and executed during the Reign of Terror, including the King of France. An unknown number of others died in prison or without trial.
10. Cromwell's conquest of Ireland (1649) - 18.2 per cent
Cromwell's invasion of Ireland resulted in a quarter of the Irish population been slaughtered and Catholic landlords dispossessed of their land.
TOP 10 PROSPEROUS TIMES IN HISTORY
1. The Romans (27 BC - 476 AD) - 36 per cent
The mighty Roman army put an end to small wars allowing people of the empire to farm and trade in peace. The Romans also introduced town planning, baths, drains, toilets and fresh water supplies.
2. The Industrial Revolution (1760 -1840) - 32.2 per cent
In this period, new machines were invented and installed, including large mills and factories. New towns sprang up around the mills offering cheap housing, schooling and medical care.
3. The Greeks (384 BC) - 29.4 per cent
They adopted a scientific approach to life, with Aristotle being the founder of Western science. Greek mathematicians produced rules of maths and geometry, which produced town planning and well-proportioned buildings.
4. The 1960s- 27.1 per cent
This was a decade of revolution and change in politics, music and society around the world. It started in the US and the UK and spread to continental Europe.
5. Current day - 26.8 per cent
The average newborn today can expect to live an entire generation longer than their great-grandparents.
6. 19th Century - 22.5 per cent
This was an era of scientific discovery and invention, with significant developments in the fields of mathematics, science and electricity, which laid the groundwork for the technological advances of the 20th Century.
7. The Renaissance (16th Century) - 21.3 per cent
The Renaissance affected art, science, architecture and sculpture. A spirit of enquiry and interests in humanity led people to question the authority of the church and ask for change.
8. Since the development of agriculture 10,000 years ago - 17.4 per cent
Life changed with the development of agriculture, for the first time people began to cultivate crops and plants and domesticate wild animals to use for meat wool and skins for clothes.
9. The 1920s - 11.1 per cent
The 1920s, also known as the 'Roaring Twenties', was a decade of contrasts. The First World War had ended in victory for the Allies, peace had returned, and with it, prosperity.
10. World War 1I (1939 – 1945) - 5.4 per cent
Although this is the deadliest conflict in history, it united people around the UK. Community spirit within Great Britain was at its highest.
The Second World War was voted just ahead of the First, with 42 per cent of the votes compared to 41.6 per cent.
The former resulted in an estimated 50 million to 85 million fatalities, while the latter saw nine million deaths, exacerbated by the advances in technology.
Although the Roman period was seen as most prosperous, it also featured among the darkest periods because the Romans punished and whipped slaves, and enjoyed watching gladiators fight to the death.
The Second World War (former German leader Adolf Hitler is pictured) was voted just ahead of the First, in the darkest period of history list - with 42 per cent of the votes compared to 41.6 per cent
Among the top inventions in human history, electricity (stock image pictured left) was top with 60 per cent of the votes, followed by Alexander Fleming's penicillin (pictured right) on 44 per cent
TOP 10 INVENTIONS OF ALL TIME
1. Electricity - 60.0 per cent
2. Penicillin - 44.1 per cent
3. The wheel - 39.1 per cent
4. Internet - 37.4 per cent
5. Computer - 35.3 per cent
6. Printing press - 34.7 per cent
7. Sanitation systems - 34.4 per cent
8. The car - 32.2 per cent
9. Steam engine - 30.2 per cent
10. Airplane - 29 per cent
Emperors were also known for being brutal in their enforcement of their religious views.
Among the top 20 inventions, electricity was top with 60 per cent of the votes, followed by Alexander Fleming's penicillin on 44 per cent.
Surprisingly, both beat the wheel, which received 39 per cent of the votes, and is often credited as the best invention in human history.
All three were also ahead of the internet, computers, and the printing press.
Sanitation systems sat in seventh place, followed by the car, steam engine, and airplanes.
Richard Felix said: 'It is no surprise the Black Death came out on top in this study; the symptoms included painful blisters, acute fever, vomiting of blood and eventually death.
'Similarly The Inquisition was a very bloody chapter of European history.'
Adrian Wills, General Manager of Yesterday added: 'The report shows us the darkest and most gruesome periods of human history should not be forgotten.'
Inquisition is new and exclusive on Yesterday, Wednesdays at 9pm from 16 July.
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