European 18th Century Social Life

I. Beginnings of a Belief I. Beginnings of a Belief in Progressin Progress

A. New wealth & new knowledge….A. New wealth & new knowledge….

B. Challenged….B. Challenged…. & created…& created…

C. Belief in progress FUNDAMENTAL to C. Belief in progress FUNDAMENTAL to modernity modernity

D. Touched almost every aspect of life D. Touched almost every aspect of life politics, medicine, production, education... politics, medicine, production, education...

“[The 18th century] saw a growing appetite, even from the slightly educated, for understanding and improvement.” Linda Kirk The Historical Journal, Dec. 2000

II. Family A. Usually nuclear, NOT

B. Married older 1. Needed years of work to...

prudence, law, and custom postponed marriage

2. Creates/instills the idea…

C. Premarital sexC. Premarital sex1. up to 1750’s

a. Not unusual, BUT…

b. Very few illegitimate kids 2. After 1750’s

a. out of wedlock children... marriage...

b. increased mobility….

D. ChildrenD. Children1. Married later, but had MANY kids rapidly

2. Infant mortality HIGH

3. Parent’s often emotionally detached from kids

4. Lower classes … while uppers…

5. Foundlings & infanticide

III. The CityA. More people moving to cities

18th cen Paris

B. Conditions

1. Crowded

2. Dirty

a. animals

b. Human waste

18th cen London

Population of Europe Population of Europe (Millions)(Millions)

Region 1500's 1700's

British Isles 5 9

Russia 10 18

France 16 19

Balkans 7 8

Low Countries 2 3

German States 13 15

Italia 11 13

Poland 4 6

Scandinavia No data 3

Spain & Portugal 9 10

3. Noisy

C. Employment

D. Then why go???

IV. The LawIV. The LawA. No central law enforcement

1. England

2 France

B. Military….

C. …or militia

England’s Bloody CodeEngland’s Bloody CodeNumber of crimes carrying the death penalty

1688 50

1765 160

1815 225

Some of the crimes carrying the death penalty in the 1700s

•stealing horses or sheep •destroying turnpike roads

•cutting down trees •pickpocketing goods worth more than one shilling

•being out at night with a blackened face •unmarried mother concealing a stillborn child

•arson •forgery

•stealing from a rabbit warren •murder

D. Courts

1. No rights for…

2. Torture & bribes frequently used…

3. Rulings

a. Usually 1 of2 rulings from judge

b. torture also frequently used...

1.

2.

E. Community Justice

1. In absence of “official” justice, public rituals used to…

2. offenses

3. Punishments Charivari, ducking chair, stockades...

11 Public humiliation

V. Schooling, Literacy, & V. Schooling, Literacy, & LanguageLanguage

A. By 1500’s, rich began…A. By 1500’s, rich began…

B. By 17B. By 17thth century… century…1.1. B & G, 7-12…B & G, 7-12…

Grew in 18Grew in 18thth, but, but

2. Churches (2. Churches ( ) often…) often…

C. Literacy undergoes…

D. Oral & Print CulturesD. Oral & Print Cultures

1. Elite culture transmitted through….1. Elite culture transmitted through….

2. Pop culture largely….2. Pop culture largely….

Some print culture Some print culture

E. LanguageE. Language

1. Popular level 1. Popular level

2. Elites 2. Elites Transmitted through...Transmitted through...

3. Created a divide 3. Created a divide

VI. Living Standards A. Housing

1. Wealthy

2. Poor

B. Employment

1. Most still involved….

2. Wealthy own land, proto-indus, commerce

3. Unpleasant jobs available...

C. Clothing 1. Wealthy

2. Poor

D. Personal Hygiene 1. Bathing

2. Bathrooms

This image contrasts 1778 and 1793 styles for both men and women,

Nightsoil men

E. Diet

1. Masses

2. Elites

3. Beer & wine... coffee & tea…

4. Neither class very healthy

potato

VII. HealthA. Disease

Smallpox, typhus, bloody flux, gout, measles, rickets, scurvy…

1. Both classes effected

2. Some diseases…

B. Tooth Decay

Hogarth Barber-surgeons

C. Medical Practitioners

1. faith healers & apothecaries….

2. Physicians

3. Surgeons

4. Midwives

5. Hospitals

D. Medical Experiments

People beginning….

VIII. Religion A. Majority of people..

B. Protestant Revival

C. Catholic Piety

1. Eltes used to….

2. Popular culture often…..

3. Showed/ made worse….

D. Declining belief in witchcraft & magic

IX. Leisure & RecreationA. Fairs & carnivals

1. Shows

2. Buy exotic items

3. Rowdy spectacles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvNMEuedsJk

C. Carnival

1. Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday

D. Elite increasingly…

Saw as…..

B. Testing social boundaries with limited outbursts of deviance

1. Social order turned upside down

2. Promotes...

3. Release of...