Health 1.3 Public Health in the Middle Ages

Question 1

How could Medieval towns be unhygenic? (HE 1.3)

Answer 1

• Rivers used to remove sewage and waste.
• Cesspits overflowed onto the (usually not paved) roads.
• Streets stank, littered with waste.
• Leather tanning chemicals and waste butchers blood dumped into rivers.

Question 2

How could Medieval towns be hygenic? (HE 1.3)

Answer 2

• Towns used spring water and wells. Some roman systems survived.
• Most towns had privies with cesspits.
• Councils encouraged street cleaning.
• Laws encouraged tradesmen to clean up.

Question 3

How were monasteries and abbeys hygenic? (HE 1.3)

Answer 3

• Privies emptied waste into pits, to be used for bleaching wool and as manure.
• Lavatorium delivered dirt filtered well water to wash basins.
• Dormitories where monks washed their clothes, faces and feet.

Question 4

Why were conditions better for monks? (HE 1.3)

Answer 4

• Money (from producing wool and people) for cleaner facilties.
• Libraries; knowledge. Diet/sleep/exercise routines.
• Kept clean for God.
• Isolation kept them safe from epidemics.

Question 5

How did the Black Death travel? How many people died? (HE 1.3)

Answer 5

• Began in Asia.
• Reached Constantinople in 1347.
• Reached England in 1348.
• 1.5 million died between 1348 amd 1350.

Question 6

What did people believe caused the black death? What were the real causes? (HE 1.3)

Answer 6

• Stars and planets. (Bacteria Yersina Pestis).
• Bad air. (Infested fleas).
• Wells poisoned by jews. (Fleas passed on disease).
• Punishment by God. (Food shortages caused malnutrition).

Question 7

What were the impacts of the Black Death? (HE 1.3)

Answer 7

• Damaged church; priests died or fled.
• Demands for higher wages contributed to the Peasant Revolt.
• Food shortages.
• Whole villages wiped.