No that is a common misunderstanding.

In Athens, mean and median life length was 71.3 years (mean) and 70 years (median).

The reason life expectancy was about 35 was because of high infant mortality.  If half of infants die, then you have to average in all these 0's into the overall life expectancy.

Modern medical science has wonderfully improved infant mortality.  I cannot argue that.  It is clear.

But it has done very little for the rest of us. ... antibiotics (which will eventually fail) probably accouting for the rest.