The Black Death – victims die in 2 to 4 days
-rats fleas carried the disease
-once the rats died out humans became new victims
Symptoms of the Black Death Include
– painful swelling – mental disorientation – vomiting
– bleeding – high fever – desire to sleep (if they did, it was fatal)
Began in 1334 and killed off 1/3 of Europe’s population between 1347 and 1352. In 1563, 20 000+ people died in London. Victims would be locked in their house, doors would be bolted and no one could enter or exit, if people wanted to resume a normal life they needed a certificate or health.
Major Reasons for Spread of Disease
– Poor hygiene
– All waste was thrown in the rivers
– River Thames helped spread the bubonic plague
– Number of infected rats
Treatment
-Different herbs were given to treat different parts of the body
-Sweet smelling herbs were used to cure head pains
-Stomach problems were treated by mint, balm
-Lung problems were treated by liquorice
Life in London
When travelers arrived in London they had to enter through one of the 8 gates along the city wall before 8:00. There was a curfew time, not meaning for everyone to be home but for all fires to be put out. Straw houses were common so fires were easy to set.
Crime & Punishment
Amputation saw – was far more cruel and painful than the axe, because it was slow and painful
Pillory – It was a wooden post with a wooden block on top with holes in it, for the person’s hands and head to be placed in.
Whipping post – where someone is strapped to a wooden post and whipped
The Brank – Also known as Gossip’s Bridle, was a metal mask put on over a women’s head, there was a sharpened mouth piece attached to it sometimes covered in spikes, for if the lady tried to talk.
Entertainment
Music– some favored instruments at the time were the lute, virginal, recorder, bagpipe and the fiddle. Musicians would be hired by wealthy people to play at dinner.
Dancing was popular most preformed by couples, one of the best opportunities for interaction between married people.
Drama– plays were high in demand, and were attended by all the people, from the lowest to the highest levels of society. The demand led London to take shows on to the road because the plague usually caused theatres to close.
Sports– played a major role in leisure time for Elizabethan times. Indoor games included dice, chess, checkers, card games and if they got bored of that they would wrestle, but injuries came along with the fun.
