People's Health - Medieval (1250-1500) - OCR GCSE History

Summary

This video explores public health in medieval England (1250-1500), highlighting the response to sanitation and health challenges. It details how cities like London implemented measures to improve water supplies, waste management, and food safety, especially after the Black Death. Key initiatives included the establishment of guilds to regulate trades, improvements in infrastructure, and the efforts of mayors and citizens to clean up streets and waterways. Despite challenges, these actions led to a gradual improvement in urban health standards.

Takeaways

• 😀 Public health measures in medieval England helped reduce the spread of disease by addressing issues like waste dumping and poor meat quality.
• 😀 Guilds played a crucial role in ensuring food safety and public health by setting standards for trades like butchers and food producers.
• 😀 The city of London led the way in public health, providing piped water since the 1230s, and its population grew significantly between 1250 and 1500.
• 😀 Local government officials, such as the Lord Mayor and aldermen, were responsible for maintaining public health in London, including overseeing sanitation and water supply.
• 😀 In the late medieval period, guilds took on more responsibility in raising health standards within different trades, including tanners, butchers, and fishmongers.
• 😀 Waste dumping was actively prevented in cities like Norwich (1287-1289), improving water supplies and contributing to healthier conditions.
• 😀 A warden was appointed in London in 1385 to ensure streets and the Thames were free of filth and waste, reflecting the city's growing concern for public health.
• 😀 In 1415, the mayor of London ordered the rebuilding of a latrine at Morgate to address sewage flooding neighboring properties.
• 😀 Wealthy citizens in the 1430s, including Mayor John Wells, funded the extension of London's water pipes and the construction of new latrines through their wills.
• 😀 In 1478, London expelled animal skinners (tanners) for dumping waste into the Thames, but the problem was simply shifted to the suburbs, highlighting challenges in waste management.
• 😀 By 1488, the butchers' guild in London had built underground passages to transport waste from slaughterhouses to the river, reflecting ongoing improvements in sanitation.

Q & A

What were the key themes discussed in the video regarding people's health in medieval times?

The key themes included the impact of living conditions, responses to epidemics, and improving public health. Key factors influencing these were beliefs, attitudes, government, science and technology, urbanization, and wealth and poverty.

What were the common living conditions like for peasants in medieval villages?

Peasant houses were small, simple huts made of woven sticks and mud. Animals were often brought indoors at night. Houses had open hearths, with smoke escaping through the roof, and were dark due to small windows. Flooring was often made of straw rushes, and many homes had kitchen gardens for growing food.

How did medieval people try to protect themselves from the Black Death?

Medieval people believed that the Black Death was a punishment from God or caused by bad smells (myasma). Some prayed, lit candles, or made pilgrimages. Flagellants whipped themselves as a form of penance. The rich fled to the countryside in search of pure air, while others tried burning herbs or carrying flowers to purify the air.

What role did the church play in medieval public health?

The church had a significant influence on medieval public health. Monasteries set standards for cleanliness, and monks often cared for the sick. People believed that cleanliness was a religious duty, and the church provided funding for public health measures such as water conduits.

How did the Black Death affect government response to public health?

Government response to public health during the Black Death was limited. King Edward III made a small attempt by ordering the cleaning of streets to prevent bad smells, but this was a localized and ineffective measure. Unlike Italy, England did not implement quarantine or extensive public health laws.

What were the living conditions like in medieval towns compared to villages?

In medieval towns, houses were built close together, and the rich had larger accommodations, sometimes with workshops. Streets were often dirty and poorly maintained, although wealthy citizens attempted to keep their surroundings cleaner. In contrast, villages had more space and fewer people, which made waste management less of an issue.

What was the role of guilds in medieval public health?

Guilds were organizations representing various trades, and they set standards for their members. They played an important role in public health by ensuring that food producers met health standards. For example, the guilds in Winchester in 1329 set standards to ensure the safety of meat and food sold to the public.

What were the different types of plagues that spread during the Black Death?

The Black Death included three types of plague: bubonic plague (characterized by swollen buboes, fever, and blisters), septicemic plague (involving bleeding, diarrhea, vomiting, and blackening of fingers, toes, and nose), and pneumonic plague (which caused chest pain, coughing blood, and difficulty breathing).

How did medieval people misunderstand the cause of the Black Death?

Medieval people believed the Black Death was caused by divine punishment, bad smells (myasma), or the imbalance of the body's humors. Some also thought it was due to the unusual movement of the planets or even earthquakes releasing poisonous vapors.

How did the Black Death impact public health measures in London after the epidemic?

After the Black Death, London took several measures to improve public health. The Lord Mayor and other officials were responsible for maintaining cleanliness, and public health measures like water supply improvements and the rebuilding of latrines were initiated. Guilds also played a role in maintaining standards, and by the 15th century, wealthy citizens began to fund these improvements.