Work has rarely been about personal fulfillment alone. For countless people across history, the daily grind wasn’t about chasing passion but about pure survival, earning just enough to keep food on the table and a roof overhead. That reality often meant stepping into jobs most others would avoid, roles marked by danger, exhaustion, or sheer unpleasantness.
While many of us complain about office monotony or the frustrations of a nine-to-five, history reminds us that some professions demanded far harsher sacrifices. From punishing conditions to meager pay, these are among the toughest and least rewarding jobs the world has ever known. Click to reveal them.