Before the Industrial Revolution, Britain was largely an agricultural country with a mostly rural population. Most people lived in small villages or on farms, and the economy was based on farming and fishing. The standard of living was relatively low, and the majority of people were poor. Life expectancy was short, infant mortality was high, and diseases and illnesses were widespread. The country was often affected by shortages of food and other essential goods due to crop failures, wars, and other disruptions. Education was largely restricted to the wealthier classes, and most people were illiterate. There was little social mobility, with most people staying in the same social and economic group as their parents. Poverty and malnutrition were rampant, and living conditions were generally poor even for many of the middle class. Overall, pre-industrial Britain was characterized by limited economic diversity, high levels of inequality, and a largely unindustrialized and rural way of life.