Task 6 - Hygiene In The Middle Ages

The definition of hygiene or __________ has varied from culture to culture throughout history.

However, one think is clear: contrary to popular belief, people have not become __________.

The idea of regular bathing as an important part of personal hygiene is not a ______________.

In Europe during the Middle Ages (c.500 - c.1500) there were also many public bath-houses, called ___________ by the common people who used them.

However, the _______________, a very contagious, often fatal bacterial disease swept much of the world during the 14th century.

It was also known as the Black Death and caused the closure of many public gathering places, including the ___________________.

Many people believed that placing water on the skin would _______________, allowing diesease to enter the body.

During the 1400s and 1500s plumbing was fairly _____________ and in large cities sewage flowed down streets and gutters in open streams that smelled bad and carried disease.

Rather than washing in water, the preferred way of cleansing the body during the 16th century was to wipe it with _________________, which were thoguht to hvae healing properties.

It became common among the poor to bathe only _____________ a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, though the face, hands, and teeth were usually cleaned daily.

Teeth were usually brushed with a chewed _____________, then wiped with cloth.

The very wealthy simply gave away their clothes when they were ________________.

Soap had been invented in the ______________ and brought back to Europe during the eleventh century by soldiers returning from the religious Crusades.

Most of the royalty and nobility concealed the smell of imperfectly clened bodies with a variety of ___________________.

Most wealthy people carried bottles of perfume, pomanders (______________), or scented handkerchiefs with them at all times. The poor simply smelled.