There is a question of just how much better or worse human memory was in the old days. Some say it was better because there just aren't that many things people need to remember, so they can remember what they consider to be important more easily.

Laws were generally far more rudementary and easier to remember. People didn't need to remember as many numbers as we do now, and as a general rule, the amount of news and events that the average person contended with within their lifetimes was also far fewer. I remember learning a fact that the average amount of news and information a person gets in just one week today is actually more than what the typical farmer would get in their lifetimes. That is mind boggling when you think about it.