Prevention of Disease in Renaissance Britain (Edexcel GCSE History)

Continuity of Ideas about Disease Prevention in the Renaissance - Summary

Superstitions

• People still believed that the supernatural influenced their health

• Many people used praying in an attempt to prevent illness 

• Other more rational ideas grew in influence:

  • Eating in moderation

  • Consideration of how strong you were when you were born (a person’s constitution

Regimen Sanitatis

• Many people continued the practices outlined in Regimen Sanitatis to keep themselves healthy

  • Cleanliness was fundamental in disease prevention

• However, bathing became less popular by the 16th century because:

  • Many stewes (public baths) were also brothels

  • Diseases such as syphilis spread quickly in this environment

• To maintain better health and cleanliness:

  • People changed their clothes more often

  • They moved away from an area with disease

Miasma & Weather Conditions

Miasma 

• Local governments targeted the removal of miasma

  • Minor criminals picked up rubbish from the streets as punishment

  • Fines were given to homeowners who did not clean up outside their house

  • Projects to drain swamps and bogs releasing bad fumes were set up

• Control of miasma was still considered incredibly important to help the population remain healthy

Weather conditions

• The idea that the weather conditions could spread disease became more popular in the Renaissance

• Barometers and thermometers monitored weather conditions over weeks and months  

  • Epidemics of disease spread easier in the summer months than in winter

  • This led to the weather conditions being identified as a cause