People’s Health - Early Modern Flashcards
New Discoveries
In the 17th century, Robert Hooke developed a microscope and discovered cells in plants.
In 1683, a Dutchman discovered tiny organisms called germs - however it would be another 200 years before we knew the link between germs (bacteria) and disease.
Work in the Early Modern Period
Most people still used woodcuts/spinning wheels to make yarn from wool - making of woollen cloth is still England’s main industry as this era is pre mass industrialisation. This means there is less disease as no smoke.
Growing power of parliament in the Early Modern Period
Parliament was more powerful than in the Middle Ages.
In the early 1700s, only 3% of adults could vote but MPs made laws which affected people’s lives.
New Products in the Early Modern Period
By 1750, Bristol was an important trading port and had doubled in size.
1600-1750 saw a transformation in trade with the wider world.
17th/18th century, England established colonies in North America and a slave trade in metals, sugar, tobacco
Growing Towns in the Early Modern Period
Towns grew quickly as more people moved from the countryside to look for work in urban areas.
By 1750, 1/5 of the population lived in cities.
These people often clustered in overcrowded suburbs outside city walls.
Ale houses in Early Modern Period
Number of ale houses expanded and people here would excessively eat/smoke/drink
Common is people (yeomans, husbandmen, etc.) drank a lot of ale/beer
Damaging as they didn’t know how their health (lungs/liver) would be damaged.
Daily bread in the Early Modern Period
Farming was still done by hand.
By 1700s, starvation decreased compared to previous years despite a growth of 3 million in population between 1550-1750
Power in Localities in the Early Modern Period
In EM period, elite groups (doctors, merchants and lawyers) didn’t depend on land.
Large landowners became Justices of Peace, enforcing law and acting as administrators
In towns, wealthy merchants controlled councils in roles like mayors and aldermen. When the plague struck, expected to take action in their locality.
Gin Reforms in the EM Period
1550 - it is illegal for ale houses to sell alcohol without a license (limited effect as smaller ale houses were not regulated , and there were a lot of them)
1660 - people began to drink spirits rather than beer or ale (spirits are stronger than ale/beer, so this induces further intoxication/more chaos/crime/ill health
1689 - imports of gin banned to encourage British distillers to make their own (gin can be sold more cheaply, therefore mass produced. Also, it’s is harder to monitor percentage of alcohol and this could be lethal when drunk)
Gin became really cheap so as a result 1000s of gin shops opened (people could mass produce and people could access it more easily. Therefore more chaos, more roots and poorer people spending all their money on gin. This leads to more crime.
1720 - gin drinking was a big problem and crime rate went up (so far no laws have been effective, crime leads to more violence and casualties. Suggests that economy is failing and there is a money crisis)
1729 - gin sellers need an annual license of £20 (difficult to enforce as lots of dram shops)
1736 - Gin Act License - license increases to £50 and tax to 20 shillings (failed for similar reasons as 1729, however there was rioting and increase in distilling illegally)
1743 - Gin Act restricted sale of gin in places selling wine and beer (this is an improvement, however did not stop sale completely)
1751 - anyone caught selling gun illegally was imprisoned/whipped/transported to Australia
The Great Plague - National Responses
1518 - isolate plague victims in their own home and identify them: straw was hung outside infected houses. People were isolated in pest houses outside city walls.
1578 - plague orders - include recording spread of the disease, financial help for the sick, and burning of victim’s clothing and bedding. Plague sufferers and healthy who lived in the same house were quarantined for at least 6 weeks. Special prayers were said to ask for God’s forgiveness.
1604 - the Plague Act increased financial help for families of the sick. City and town watchmen could use harsh punishments to enforce policy. There were harsher punishments if a victim left isolation. They could be hanged.
Gin Reform of 1550
1550 - it is illegal for ale houses to sell alcohol without a license (limited effect as smaller ale houses were not regulated , and there were a lot of them)
Gin reform of 1660
1660 - people began to drink spirits rather than beer or ale (spirits are stronger than ale/beer, so this induces further intoxication/more chaos/crime/ill health
Gin Reform of 1689
1689 - imports of gin banned to encourage British distillers to make their own (gin can be sold more cheaply, therefore mass produced. Also, it’s is harder to monitor percentage of alcohol and this could be lethal when drunk)
Gin became really cheap so as a result 1000s of gin shops opened (people could mass produce and people could access it more easily. Therefore more chaos, more roots and poorer people spending all their money on gin. This leads to more crime.
Gin Reform of 1720
1720 - gin drinking was a big problem and crime rate went up (so far no laws have been effective, crime leads to more violence and casualties. Suggests that economy is failing and there is a money crisis)
Gin Reform of 1729
1729 - gin sellers need an annual license of £20 (difficult to enforce as lots of dram shops)
