The Quest for Longevity and Immortality Throughout history, human civilizations have sought to understand aging and cheat death. While ancient average life expectancy was low (often 20–35 years), this figure was heavily skewed by high infant mortality. Evidence suggests that individuals who survived childhood frequently lived into their 60s, 70s, and occasionally beyond 100.

• Mesopotamia: The Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2000 BCE) represents the earliest literary struggle with mortality. Gilgamesh’s failed quest for eternal life led to the realization that physical immortality is reserved for the gods, and humans must find meaning through their legacy and acceptance of death.

• Ancient Egypt: Egyptians viewed the afterlife as a continuation of life, investing heavily in mummification to preserve the body as a vessel for the soul. However, they also practiced "Plan A": extending earthly life through rational medicine. The Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BCE) contains over 800 remedies for ailments ranging from heart disease to diabetes, blending pharmacology with magico-religious spells.

• China: The pursuit of the "Elixir of Life" was a political imperative for emperors like Qin Shi Huang, who sought physical immortality to rule eternally. Early Chinese alchemy (Waidan) involved ingesting substances like toxic mercury and gold. Over time, this evolved into Neidan (internal alchemy) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which emphasized preserving Qi (vital energy) and balancing Yin and Yang to maintain health.

• India: Ayurveda developed Rasayana (rejuvenation therapy), one of its eight major branches. Rasayana aims to nourish the dhatus (tissues) and balance the three doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) to retard aging, improve immunity, and enhance mental faculties.

• Greece and Rome: Medical theory was dominated by Humorism, which posited that health resulted from the balance of four bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Philosophically, schools like the Stoics and Epicureans addressed the fear of death; Stoics advocated living in accordance with nature, while Epicureans argued that death was merely the cessation of sensation and nothing to fear.

Conclusion Ancient longevity practices transitioned from the "irrational" search for magical elixirs to "rational" systems of hygiene, diet, and medicine. Whether through the Rasayana of India, the Humoral Theory of the West, or the Qi cultivation of China, these civilizations established that longevity was not merely accidental, but a state to be actively cultivated through harmony with one's environment and constitution