I am looking for examples to demonstate the following thesis: Life in
olden times was much more physcially difficult and demanding than it
is now.

What comes to mind is the what i once heard as the life expectency and
living conditions in medival England. I belive I heard that an average
life span was in the low 30s, and that a person typically didn't have
their teeth by the time they were somwhere in their late 20s. the
point I am trying to bring out is that life used to be much more
difficult, any such examples will do.

Be sure to read this remarkable answer to a question about life in earlier times:

http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=186507

Barryba -- 

I'm sure that researchers will find some great examples for you.  But
be aware that living conditions changed dramatically over time.  In
Michael Frassatto's excellent book "The Year 1000" he notes that
Europeans were taller, more well-nourished, and better dental care at
the turn of the first Millenium than 500 years later when urbanization
had begun and sugar became an important part of the diet:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1403960291/qid=1095111109/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-7079124-8836748?v=glance&s=books

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA