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This is a difficult question, and different people give different answers.
It seems medieval people bathed a lot. They believed that cleanliness was next to godliness, and so they took care to be clean.
But they had no idea at all of how disease vectors operated, and so they were very ineffective in trying to control the spread of disease. They believed that disease could be borne by bad air, so they were rather intolerant of bad odors. But they simply had no idea that fleas and rodents spread the plague, for example, and so they put their efforts into the wrong places.
There are things written about the Middle Ages and hygiene that are quite possibly not true, and we have to be careful to assess these things rationally.
For example, I have read that they threw human waste into the streets. Given the fact that they regarded foul odors as disease vectors, I find this hard to believe. It is easier to believe reports that night soil was collected and sold for fertilizer. I have seen drains that go directly from the houses to street gutters, but it makes better sense that these be used for gray water than for human waste.
I have seen reports that the water was bad, and they knew it, so they drank beer and wine. At the same time, I have seen other reports to the effect that every manor had wells and springs, and the water was used for drinking. Also we have records and artifacts of the water infrastructure of London, which took water from various springs, wells, and brooks, and delivered it to the people. Only poor people, it is thought, took their water from the Thames.
It is very hard to find good source materials on this subject, especially since it is the sort of thing people would exaggerate about for fun. The image of a professional cook scraping a running sore with the knife he was using for cooking, in the Canterbury Tales, is clearly intended to be shocking to the reader, a fact that should tell us not that it was common, but instead that the readers of the time would have found it disgusting. But good sources, objectively describing conditions, are lacking.
There are some links below.
What else can I help you with?
What were the sanitation practices like for toilets during medieval times?
During medieval times, sanitation practices for toilets were very basic and often unsanitary. Most people used chamber pots or simply relieved themselves outdoors. There were also communal latrines in some areas, but they were often overflowing and unhygienic. Overall, sanitation for toilets during medieval times was poor compared to modern standards.
What were the sanitation practices like for bathrooms in medieval times?
Sanitation practices for bathrooms in medieval times were generally poor. Most people did not have access to indoor plumbing, so they used chamber pots or outdoor latrines. Waste was often thrown into the streets or rivers, leading to unsanitary conditions and the spread of disease. Public bathhouses were also common, but they were not always clean or well-maintained. Overall, hygiene standards were low compared to modern times.
Was it better in Medieval Times than today?
Most people would say it is better today that in medieval times. Modern knowledge of science, engineering, medicine, and sanitation has made life easier and longer for many people.
What were the sanitation practices like in medieval latrines?
In medieval times, latrines were often simple pits or trenches dug into the ground. Waste would accumulate in these pits, and there was little to no system for proper disposal or cleaning. This lack of sanitation led to the spread of diseases and foul odors in medieval communities.
What were the sanitation practices and facilities, particularly toilets, like in medieval times?
In medieval times, sanitation practices and facilities, including toilets, were generally poor. Most people used chamber pots or simply went outside to relieve themselves. Public latrines were sometimes available in cities, but they were often unsanitary and lacked privacy. Overall, hygiene and sanitation were not a priority during this time period.
What were the sanitation practices like for toilets during medieval times?
During medieval times, sanitation practices for toilets were very basic and often unsanitary. Most people used chamber pots or simply relieved themselves outdoors. There were also communal latrines in some areas, but they were often overflowing and unhygienic. Overall, sanitation for toilets during medieval times was poor compared to modern standards.
What were the sanitation practices like for bathrooms in medieval times?
Sanitation practices for bathrooms in medieval times were generally poor. Most people did not have access to indoor plumbing, so they used chamber pots or outdoor latrines. Waste was often thrown into the streets or rivers, leading to unsanitary conditions and the spread of disease. Public bathhouses were also common, but they were not always clean or well-maintained. Overall, hygiene standards were low compared to modern times.
Was it better in Medieval Times than today?
Most people would say it is better today that in medieval times. Modern knowledge of science, engineering, medicine, and sanitation has made life easier and longer for many people.
What were the sanitation practices like in medieval latrines?
In medieval times, latrines were often simple pits or trenches dug into the ground. Waste would accumulate in these pits, and there was little to no system for proper disposal or cleaning. This lack of sanitation led to the spread of diseases and foul odors in medieval communities.
What were the sanitation practices and facilities, particularly toilets, like in medieval times?
In medieval times, sanitation practices and facilities, including toilets, were generally poor. Most people used chamber pots or simply went outside to relieve themselves. Public latrines were sometimes available in cities, but they were often unsanitary and lacked privacy. Overall, hygiene and sanitation were not a priority during this time period.
What modern cities were in England during medieval times?
London
Did they have fashion police in Medieval Times?
No they didn't. That is totally modern.
Was Mackenzie a name used in the medieval times?
No it is a Scottish family name from after the medieval period; as a first name it is extremely modern.
A period of transition or change bridging medieval times and modern is called the?
Renaissance
How does the daily life of a peasant working in medieval times differ from that of a modern-day laborer?
In medieval times, peasants worked on farms and had limited access to technology, education, and healthcare. They lived in small, simple homes and had little control over their lives. Modern-day laborers have more rights, access to technology, education, and healthcare, and often work in a variety of industries. They have more opportunities for advancement and a higher standard of living compared to medieval peasants.
What is the time period of the Medieval Times?
The medieval times date from the 5th century ( fall of the western roman empire) to the 16th century in the beginning of the early modern period.
Why do medieval maps label modern day Jerusalem as the Ottoman Empire?
Jerusalem was controlled by the Ottoman Empire during medieval times.
