WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Towns and cities were filthy, the streets open sewers; there was no running water and knowledge of hygiene was non-existent. Dung, garbage and animal carcasses were thrown into rivers and ditches, poisoning the water and the neighbouring areas. Fleas, rats, and mice flourished in these conditions.

Detailed explanation-2: -Public latrines emptied into rivers which became breeding grounds for disease. People used water from rivers to cook and clean. The volume of rubbish meant that it was almost impossible to keep streets clean. Even in towns with bath houses, people did not bathe that often.

Detailed explanation-3: -Unhealthy living conditions in medieval towns led to the spread of disease. Towns were very dirty places. There was no running water in homes. Instead of bathrooms, people used outdoor privies (shelters used as toilets) or chamber pots that they emptied into nearby streams and canals.

Detailed explanation-4: -Most medieval people probably were dirty, and perhaps even smelly, by our standards – however hard you try, it must be nearly impossible to make a cold, muddy river work as well as a power shower and a washing machine. But only a tiny number of medieval people were truly filthy. Even fewer actually wanted to be dirty.

Detailed explanation-5: -Common diseases were dysentery, malaria, diphtheria, flu, typhoid, smallpox and leprosy. Most of these are now rare in Britain, but some diseases, like cancer and heart disease, are more common in modern times than they were in the Middle Ages.