Medieval public health in towns and monasteries
I can explain why the quality of public health differed between medieval towns and monasteries.
Medieval public health in towns and monasteries
I can explain why the quality of public health differed between medieval towns and monasteries.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Water in medieval towns was often contaminated by waste and sewage.
- Streets in towns were often dirty because of poor waste disposal.
- Actions to improve public health in towns had limited impact.
- The location of monasteries helped protect them from disease.
- Monasteries invested in good sanitation facilities.
Keywords
Sanitation - a system for protecting people's health by removing dirt and waste
Public health - actions and systems intended to prevent disease and maintain good health within communities
Contaminate - to make something dirty or harmful to people’s health
Cesspit - a large underground hole that is used for collecting human waste
Privy - medieval name given to a toilet
Common misconception
Medieval people were not interested in good personal hygiene.
Personal hygiene was considered important by most, but access to washing facilities was unequal so levels of personal hygiene differed considerably between different groups of the population, such as nuns and monks and poor residents of towns.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: Medieval public health in towns and monasteries, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: Medieval public health in towns and monasteries, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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