Were people in the past smarter than now? Why/ why not?

i put an end to end of sentence.

the tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to 3.3 metres and weighing up to 306 kg. their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts. they have exceptionally stout teeth, and their canines are the longest among living felids, with a crown height of up to 74.5 mm.they are territorial and generally solitary but social animals, often requiring large contiguous areas of habitat that support their prey requirements. this, coupled with the fact that they are indigenous to some of the more densely populated places on earth, has caused significant conflicts with humans. in zoos, tigers have live for 20 to 26 years, which also seems to be their longevity in the wild.

1. i was sitting in front of the fire, when they called out to me.

2. i was getting the tea ready,  when my mother came home from work.

3. she was dusting the carpet, when her cat knocked a vase off the table.

4. we were finishing our tea, when there was a knock at the door.

5. they were going down the garden path, when she stopped and waved. 

раньше это была тюрьма для заключенных(их туда збрасывали),а сейчас это-достопримечательность.