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

Name: Urban Bodies: Communal Health in Late Medieval English Towns and Cities
Price: 39.95 USD
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Rating: 4.9 (8 reviews)

4.9 of 5 Stars: History - Urban Bodies: Communal Health in Late Medieval English Towns and Cities

$39.95

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Book Synopsis: The idea of English medieval towns and cities as filthy, muddy and insanitary is here overturned in a pioneering new study. Carole Rawcliffe continues with her mission to clean up the Middle Ages. In earlier work she has already given us scholarly yet sympathetic portrayals of English medicine, hospitals, and welfare for lepers. Now she widens her scope to public health. Her argument is clear, simple and convincing. Through the efforts of crown and civic authorities, mercantile élites and popular" interests, English towns and cities aspired to a far healthier, less polluted environment than previously supposed. All major sources of possible infection were regulated, from sounds and smells to corrupt matter - and to immorality. Once again Professor Rawcliffe has overturned a well-established orthodoxyin the history of pre-modern health and healing. Her book is a magnificent achievement." Peregrine Horden, Royal Holloway University of London.

This first full-length study of public health in pre-Reformation England challenges a number of entrenched assumptions about the insanitary nature of urban life during "the golden age of bacteria". Adopting an interdisciplinary approach that draws on material remains as well as archives, it examines the medical, cultural and religious contexts in which ideas about the welfare of the communal body developed. Far from demonstrating indifference, ignorance or mute acceptance in the face of repeated onslaughts of epidemic disease, the rulers and residents of English towns devised sophisticated and coherent strategies for the creation of a more salubrious environment; among the plethora of initiatives whose origins often predated the Black Death can also be found measures for the improvement of the water supply, for better food standards and for the care of the sick, both rich and poor.

CAROLE RAWCLIFFE is Professor of Medieval History, University of East Anglia.

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Discover a groundbreaking new perspective on medieval towns and cities with Urban Bodies: Communal Health in Late Medieval English Towns and Cities. In this extraordinary study, Carole Rawcliffe challenges the prevailing belief that medieval English urban areas were filthy and insanitary. Through meticulous research, Rawcliffe reveals the efforts made by crown and civic authorities, mercantile elites, and the public to create a healthier and less polluted environment.

Rawcliffe's extensive knowledge and expert analysis shed light on the intricate web of regulations that governed all major infection sources, from sounds and smells to corrupt matter and immorality. This pioneering research expands our understanding of pre-modern health practices and overturns long-held assumptions about medieval urban life. With Urban Bodies, Rawcliffe once again proves herself to be a trailblazer in the field of historical medicine and welfare.

What sets Urban Bodies apart is its interdisciplinary approach. By combining material remains and archival evidence, Rawcliffe uncovers the medical, cultural, and religious dimensions that shaped the welfare of the communal body. This thorough examination reveals that far from accepting or ignoring epidemic diseases, the residents and rulers of English towns devised intelligent and coherent strategies to promote a more salubrious environment.

Whether you're a history enthusiast, a scholar, or simply curious about the Middle Ages, Urban Bodies offers a deep dive into the fascinating world of pre-Reformation England's public health practices. The book unearths the origins of various initiatives that predated the Black Death, such as the improvement of water supply, better food standards, and the care of the sick, regardless of social status. Join Carole Rawcliffe in this magnificent achievement and experience the new paradigm of medieval urban health.

Don't miss out on this groundbreaking book that challenges long-held beliefs. Explore the fascinating world of medieval public health with Urban Bodies: Communal Health in Late Medieval English Towns and Cities. Order your copy today and embark on a captivating journey through time.

Order now and revolutionize your understanding of medieval public health!

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