I don't know if they were smarter or not. What I do know is that way back when, they had no power tools so they learned to move wood at about the same rate with an all too mouth watering workshop filled with tools, kinda like me. I guess that makes them either smarter or more "doing it the hard wayish". So thumbs up to them who got by without switches and buttons but still crafted the old world craftsmanship that we have a hard time accomplishing. Not denouncing anybody, I'm just glorifying others.
I was once a woodworker, I still am I'm just saying that I once was.
Chop your own wood, it will warm you twice. -Henry Ford