Prevention of Disease in Renaissance Britain (Edexcel GCSE History): Revision Note

Continuity of ideas about disease prevention in the Renaissance - Summary

• Methods of prevention changed little between the medieval and Renaissance periods

• Without an understanding of germs, people did not know how to avoid catching diseases

• People still believed that religion was the key to staying healthy

  • The general population prayed and lived a morally good life to prevent illness

  • In times of epidemics, such as the Great Plague of 1665, the use of supernatural preventions only increased

• However, science and observation began to influence people’s behaviour

  • People watched what they ate

  • Pre-existing, logical theories became more accepted, such as miasma

Superstitions

• People still believed that the supernatural influenced their health

• Many people prayed in an attempt to prevent illness 

• More rational ideas grew in influence, such as:

  • Eating in moderation

  • Considering 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 the stewes

• To maintain better health and cleanliness, people:

  • Changed their clothes more often

  • Moved away from areas 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 houses

  • Projects to drain swamps and bogs were set up

Weather conditions

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

• Barometers and thermometers tracked pressure and temperature

  • Hot summers were linked to a higher risk of disease, such as plague

AWAITING IMAGE

A diagram showing the changes and continuity of disease prevention in the Renaissance period