In the Middle ages, only the rich went to school.

Everyone else, either worked the family plot, hunted food, or took an apprenticeship.

You then became a Journeyman, traveling about, honing the skill you had been taught. Then, you did a piece, or a project that was considered Masters work, and you then took on an apprentice of your own.

Obviously, some folk were better at the job than others... the good and great developed workshops, with multiple apprentices working for them.

But, the majority lived subsistence, hand, to mouth... in fear of a poor harvest, blight, insect attack or weather destroying the seasons work.

No matter WHAT time you lived in, it was a rat race - only - back then, if you failed, you died.

If you chose to live in the bush in modern times - the primordial rat race becomes apparent... don't cut enough wood for winter... fall and break s leg... get sick... have an animal attack...

Our lives are more comfortable now than ever before, we just forgot.