Middle Ages Hygiene
Content
Middle Ages Hygiene Middle Ages hygiene was extremely basic in terms of the disposal of waste products and garbage. However, personal hygiene was better than the perception of Middle Ages Hygiene. People did wash, bath and clean their teeth. The terrible outbreak of the Black Death made Medieval people look for a link between health and hygiene. The words of men who lived during the Middle Ages provide a fascinating and informative first-hand view of different aspects of hygiene during the Medieval era.
Middle Ages Hygiene - Personal Hygiene During the Middle Ages the crusaders brought soap back from the far East to Europe. People generally washed in cold water unless they were wealthy when hot water would be provided for bathing purposes. Bathing was usually conducted in wooden barrels but simply designed bathrooms were added in Medieval Castle interiors for the lords. Before people entered the Great Hall for meals they washed their hands. As cleanliness and hygiene improved during the Middle Ages lavers were introduced which were stone basins used for washing and provided at the entrances of castle dining halls. Bathing was usually conducted in wooden barrels but simply designed bathrooms were added in Medieval Castle interiors for the wealthy nobles and lords.
Middle Ages Hygiene - Dental Hygiene During the Middle Ages people did pay attention to dental hygiene. There was only one remedy for a bad tooth - it would be pulled out without the use of any anaesthetic or pain killer - the pain must have been excruciating. There were no false teeth, or dentures and women especially would have been very concerned about losing their teeth. Teeth were cleaned by rubbing them with a
cloth. Mixtures of herbs or abrasives were also used including the ashes of burnt rosemary.
Middle Ages Hygiene - Garderobes or Privies There were many lavatories, called garderobes or privies, included in large Medieval buildings such as castles, monasteries and convents. The Garderobes or Privy chambers were positioned as far away from the interior chambers as practical and often had double doors added to reduce the smell! Chutes were provided for the discharge which often led to the castle moat. Privy seats were made of wood or stone.
Threat to Middle Ages Hygiene - Rush Flooring The practice of covering floors with rushes was a a real threat to hygiene and health during the Middle Ages. Following the Black Death a limited number of carpets and mats were introduced to replace the floor rushes but floors strewn with straw or rushes were still favoured. Sweet smelling herbs such as lavender, camomile, rose petals, daisies and fennel were added to disguise the bad smells which were prevalent due to the inadequate plumbing systems and the rushes.
Erasmus Quote on Middle Ages Health and Hygiene: The great Scholar, Humanist and Reformer Erasmus (1466-1536) wrote to friend describing the state of the Medieval floors during the Middle Ages:
"The doors are, in general, laid with white clay, and are covered with rushes, occasionally renewed, but so imperfectly that the bottom layer is left undisturbed, sometimes for twenty years, harbouring expectoration, vomiting, the leakage of dogs and men, ale droppings, scraps of fish,
and other abominations not fit to be mentioned. Whenever the weather changes a vapour is exhaled, which I consider very detrimental to health. I may add that England is not only everywhere surrounded by sea, but is, in many places, swampy and marshy, intersected by salt rivers, to say nothing of salt provisions, in which the common people take so much delight I am confident the island would be much more salubrious if the use of rushes were abandoned, and if the rooms were built in such a way as to be exposed to the sky on two or three sides, and all the windows so built as to be opened or closed at once, and so completely closed as not to admit the foul air through chinks; for as it is beneficial to health to admit the air, so it is equally beneficial at times to exclude it".
Threat to Middle Ages Hygiene - Waste Disposal Following the devastating outbreak of the Black Death in England (1348-1350) a link appears to have been made between health and hygiene. In 1388 the English parliament issued the following statute in an effort to clean up England and improve Middle Ages Hygiene:
"Item, that so much dung and filth of the garbage and entrails be cast and put into ditches, rivers, and other waters... so that the air there is grown greatly corrupt and infected, and many maladies and other intolerable diseases do daily happen... it is accorded and assented, that the proclamation be made as well in the city of London, as in other cities, boroughs, and towns through the realm of England, where it shall be needful that all they who do cast and lay all such annoyances, dung, garbages, entrails, and other…”
Daily life in Medieval Times for royalty was not as romantic as one might be lead to believe. Lords had to contend with low quality food and drink, which often had little nutrition.
The aristocracy’s hygiene and sanitation, although better than peasants, was still painfully lacking. Their living quarters, while large and lofty, were frequently damp, dark, and smelly and also housed numerous vermin. Leading a noble’s life in the Middle Ages would be an unpleasant experience. The Lord ’s Table, although well stocked, was not high in nutrition or sanitation. Vegetables were frowned upon as “commoner’s food”, and even then, both they and fruits were available only in the harvest months of late spring and autumn. Also, food rotted because of improper storage. For these reasons the aristocratic diet consisted mainly of bread, meat, and spices (used to hide spoilage). This diet contained a deficiency of vitamins and fiber which lead to sickness. Clean water was not available so people resorted to drinking ale and beer. However, due to lack of containers and proper stoppage materials (such as corks) beverages would often be laden with silt, pitch, molds, and a sour flavor. Royalty’s poor diet was a contributing factor to their menial lifestyle. Another aspect of a royal’s poor lifestyle was found in their mediocre hygiene. Simple everyday things we use to stay clean were incredibly difficult for them to obtain and use. To illustrate, take the hot water we use so often. During the medieval ages it took an incredibly long time to procure. Because royals could not easily acquire it they did not take baths very often, resulting in a stench that filled the castle. The only thing they brushed their teeth with was a cloth and ashes. If that failed to keep decay away the tooth in question would be pulled-without anesthetics or painkillers. Even going to the bathroom was disgusting. Their water closets would be located high up in the castle, the cold wind blowing the stench into your face and on around your body. Disposal of it was even worse. As the medieval society lacked sewage, human waste was dumped into nearby rivers. These rivers might even be used downstream for water! It is no
wonder sickness ran throughout Middle Age Europe. Because medieval lords lacked proper hygiene, their lifestyle was subsequently lowered. Members of the aristocracy could not ever be fully comfortable, especially so because of their homes. Living in their castles was quite difficult. Because the walls were so thick, they absorbed moisture like a sponge. This left every wall constantly damp and wet. Castles were also quite dark, devoid of modern lighting or electricity. The only source of warmth would be near the fire, and anywhere else would be very cold. The final nails in the coffin for castles were their flooring. Because floors were so damp, they were covered with rushes, both as padding and to absorb the moisture. However, the floors would absorb the odors of garbage left on them and begin to mold. The combined odor of the molding rushes and garbage would eventually spread. Because living spaces were so terrible disease and sickness often ravaged medieval royalty. Although Medieval Royalty had the finest money could buy them, their lives were mediocre. They did not have much nutrition of good food, which lead to weakness and disease. They were not clean, and as a result were often smelly and foul. Their living spaces were inferior, causing disgust and sickness to spread. Because of these factors, a noble’s life in the medieval ages was very unpleasant. Bibliography: “Family and Kinship.” Encylopedia Brittanica. 15th ed. 2007. Print. Time Life Incorporated. What life was like in the age of chivalry. Alexandria: Time-Life books .1997. Print. Easton, Stewart C. The Heritage of the Past. Rinehart and Company .1957. Print. Singman, Jerry L. Daily Life in Medieval Europe. Greenwood Press. 1999. Print.
Gies, Francis , Gies, Joseph. Daily Life in Medieval Times. Black Dog & Leventhal. 1990. Print.
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-age…
Middle Ages Hygiene - Personal Hygiene During the Middle Ages the crusaders brought soap back from the far East to Europe. People generally washed in cold water unless they were wealthy when hot water would be provided for bathing purposes. Bathing was usually conducted in wooden barrels but simply designed bathrooms were added in Medieval Castle interiors for the lords. Before people entered the Great Hall for meals they washed their hands. As cleanliness and hygiene improved during the Middle Ages lavers were introduced which were stone basins used for washing and provided at the entrances of castle dining halls. Bathing was usually conducted in wooden barrels but simply designed bathrooms were added in Medieval Castle interiors for the wealthy nobles and lords.
Middle Ages Hygiene - Dental Hygiene During the Middle Ages people did pay attention to dental hygiene. There was only one remedy for a bad tooth - it would be pulled out without the use of any anaesthetic or pain killer - the pain must have been excruciating. There were no false teeth, or dentures and women especially would have been very concerned about losing their teeth. Teeth were cleaned by rubbing them with a
cloth. Mixtures of herbs or abrasives were also used including the ashes of burnt rosemary.
Middle Ages Hygiene - Garderobes or Privies There were many lavatories, called garderobes or privies, included in large Medieval buildings such as castles, monasteries and convents. The Garderobes or Privy chambers were positioned as far away from the interior chambers as practical and often had double doors added to reduce the smell! Chutes were provided for the discharge which often led to the castle moat. Privy seats were made of wood or stone.
Threat to Middle Ages Hygiene - Rush Flooring The practice of covering floors with rushes was a a real threat to hygiene and health during the Middle Ages. Following the Black Death a limited number of carpets and mats were introduced to replace the floor rushes but floors strewn with straw or rushes were still favoured. Sweet smelling herbs such as lavender, camomile, rose petals, daisies and fennel were added to disguise the bad smells which were prevalent due to the inadequate plumbing systems and the rushes.
Erasmus Quote on Middle Ages Health and Hygiene: The great Scholar, Humanist and Reformer Erasmus (1466-1536) wrote to friend describing the state of the Medieval floors during the Middle Ages:
"The doors are, in general, laid with white clay, and are covered with rushes, occasionally renewed, but so imperfectly that the bottom layer is left undisturbed, sometimes for twenty years, harbouring expectoration, vomiting, the leakage of dogs and men, ale droppings, scraps of fish,
and other abominations not fit to be mentioned. Whenever the weather changes a vapour is exhaled, which I consider very detrimental to health. I may add that England is not only everywhere surrounded by sea, but is, in many places, swampy and marshy, intersected by salt rivers, to say nothing of salt provisions, in which the common people take so much delight I am confident the island would be much more salubrious if the use of rushes were abandoned, and if the rooms were built in such a way as to be exposed to the sky on two or three sides, and all the windows so built as to be opened or closed at once, and so completely closed as not to admit the foul air through chinks; for as it is beneficial to health to admit the air, so it is equally beneficial at times to exclude it".
Threat to Middle Ages Hygiene - Waste Disposal Following the devastating outbreak of the Black Death in England (1348-1350) a link appears to have been made between health and hygiene. In 1388 the English parliament issued the following statute in an effort to clean up England and improve Middle Ages Hygiene:
"Item, that so much dung and filth of the garbage and entrails be cast and put into ditches, rivers, and other waters... so that the air there is grown greatly corrupt and infected, and many maladies and other intolerable diseases do daily happen... it is accorded and assented, that the proclamation be made as well in the city of London, as in other cities, boroughs, and towns through the realm of England, where it shall be needful that all they who do cast and lay all such annoyances, dung, garbages, entrails, and other…”
Daily life in Medieval Times for royalty was not as romantic as one might be lead to believe. Lords had to contend with low quality food and drink, which often had little nutrition.
The aristocracy’s hygiene and sanitation, although better than peasants, was still painfully lacking. Their living quarters, while large and lofty, were frequently damp, dark, and smelly and also housed numerous vermin. Leading a noble’s life in the Middle Ages would be an unpleasant experience. The Lord ’s Table, although well stocked, was not high in nutrition or sanitation. Vegetables were frowned upon as “commoner’s food”, and even then, both they and fruits were available only in the harvest months of late spring and autumn. Also, food rotted because of improper storage. For these reasons the aristocratic diet consisted mainly of bread, meat, and spices (used to hide spoilage). This diet contained a deficiency of vitamins and fiber which lead to sickness. Clean water was not available so people resorted to drinking ale and beer. However, due to lack of containers and proper stoppage materials (such as corks) beverages would often be laden with silt, pitch, molds, and a sour flavor. Royalty’s poor diet was a contributing factor to their menial lifestyle. Another aspect of a royal’s poor lifestyle was found in their mediocre hygiene. Simple everyday things we use to stay clean were incredibly difficult for them to obtain and use. To illustrate, take the hot water we use so often. During the medieval ages it took an incredibly long time to procure. Because royals could not easily acquire it they did not take baths very often, resulting in a stench that filled the castle. The only thing they brushed their teeth with was a cloth and ashes. If that failed to keep decay away the tooth in question would be pulled-without anesthetics or painkillers. Even going to the bathroom was disgusting. Their water closets would be located high up in the castle, the cold wind blowing the stench into your face and on around your body. Disposal of it was even worse. As the medieval society lacked sewage, human waste was dumped into nearby rivers. These rivers might even be used downstream for water! It is no
wonder sickness ran throughout Middle Age Europe. Because medieval lords lacked proper hygiene, their lifestyle was subsequently lowered. Members of the aristocracy could not ever be fully comfortable, especially so because of their homes. Living in their castles was quite difficult. Because the walls were so thick, they absorbed moisture like a sponge. This left every wall constantly damp and wet. Castles were also quite dark, devoid of modern lighting or electricity. The only source of warmth would be near the fire, and anywhere else would be very cold. The final nails in the coffin for castles were their flooring. Because floors were so damp, they were covered with rushes, both as padding and to absorb the moisture. However, the floors would absorb the odors of garbage left on them and begin to mold. The combined odor of the molding rushes and garbage would eventually spread. Because living spaces were so terrible disease and sickness often ravaged medieval royalty. Although Medieval Royalty had the finest money could buy them, their lives were mediocre. They did not have much nutrition of good food, which lead to weakness and disease. They were not clean, and as a result were often smelly and foul. Their living spaces were inferior, causing disgust and sickness to spread. Because of these factors, a noble’s life in the medieval ages was very unpleasant. Bibliography: “Family and Kinship.” Encylopedia Brittanica. 15th ed. 2007. Print. Time Life Incorporated. What life was like in the age of chivalry. Alexandria: Time-Life books .1997. Print. Easton, Stewart C. The Heritage of the Past. Rinehart and Company .1957. Print. Singman, Jerry L. Daily Life in Medieval Europe. Greenwood Press. 1999. Print.
Gies, Francis , Gies, Joseph. Daily Life in Medieval Times. Black Dog & Leventhal. 1990. Print.
http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/middle-age…
