Urban Bodies: Communal Health in Late Medieval English Towns and Cities

Carole Rawcliffe's groundbreaking study challenges the notion of English medieval towns and cities as filthy, muddy, and insanitary, demonstrating that they aspired to a healthier, less polluted environment through the efforts of crown and civic authorities, mercantile elites, and popular interests. The book examines the medical, cultural, and religious contexts in which ideas about the welfare of the communal body developed and reveals sophisticated and coherent strategies for creating a more salubrious environment, including measures for the improvement of the water supply, better food standards, and the care of the sick, both rich and poor.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 445 pages
\n Publication date: 05 April 2019
\n Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd
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Carole Rawcliffe, a renowned historian, continues her groundbreaking work in exploring the Middle Ages. In her previous research, she has delved into the realm of English medicine, hospitals, and welfare for lepers, presenting scholarly yet compassionate portrayals of the era. Now, she broadens her scope to encompass public health, offering a compelling argument that challenges prevailing notions about the insanitary nature of medieval towns and cities.

Rawcliffe's thesis is straightforward yet compelling. Through the collaborative efforts of crown and civic authorities, merchant elites, and popular interests, English towns and cities aimed to create a far healthier and less polluted environment than previously believed. Every significant source of potential infection, ranging from sounds and smells to corrupt matter and immorality, was meticulously regulated. Once again, Professor Rawcliffe has overturned a well-established orthodoxy in the history of pre-modern health and healing.

This groundbreaking study, the first full-length exploration of public health in pre-Reformation England, challenges numerous entrenched assumptions about urban life during the so-called "golden age of bacteria." By adopting an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates material remains and archival sources, the book delves into the medical, cultural, and religious contexts that shaped ideas about the welfare of the communal body. Contrary to popular belief, Rawcliffe demonstrates that the rulers and residents of English towns were not indifferent, ignorant, or passive in the face of repeated epidemics. Instead, they developed sophisticated and coherent strategies to create a more salubrious environment.

Among the numerous initiatives that emerged during this period, Rawcliffe highlights measures for improving the water supply, enhancing food standards, and promoting sanitation. These efforts were not limited to the aftermath of the Black Death but predated it, reflecting a long-standing commitment to public health. The study also sheds light on the role of religion in shaping public health practices, as religious institutions played a significant role in providing care and support to the sick and vulnerable.

In conclusion, Carole Rawcliffe's pioneering study on public health in pre-Reformation England is a magnificent achievement. It challenges entrenched assumptions and provides a fresh perspective on the era. Through meticulous research and interdisciplinary analysis, Rawcliffe demonstrates that medieval towns and cities were not as insanitary as commonly believed. Instead, they were actively engaged in creating a healthier and more prosperous environment for their inhabitants. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of medieval history and should be read by scholars and enthusiasts alike.

\n Weight: 672g\n
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781783273812\n \n