Name one aspect of people’s lives in the period 1500-1750 that led to poor public health.
Level
Year Examined
2022
Topic
World History
👑Complete Model Essay
Name one aspect of people’s lives in the period 1500-1750 that led to poor public health.
1(a) – One Aspect Leading to Poor Public Health (1500-1750)
Chosen Aspect: Lack of Sanitation
One significant factor that contributed to poor public health between 1500 and 1750 was the lack of proper sanitation in rapidly growing urban centres.
Example: London, during this period, experienced a surge in population, becoming a bustling centre of trade and commerce. However, this growth came at a cost. The city's infrastructure struggled to keep pace, resulting in severely inadequate sanitation systems.
Explanation: The lack of proper sewage disposal and waste management created a perfect breeding ground for disease. Human waste often ended up in open cesspits or directly into the River Thames, which was also the primary source of drinking water for many Londoners. This contamination led to frequent outbreaks of deadly diseases such as cholera and typhoid. John Graunt, a demographer of the time, noted the high mortality rates in London, especially among infants and children, which were often linked to waterborne illnesses. The Great Plague of 1665, while multi-faceted in its causes, was exacerbated by the filthy living conditions and presence of rats, further illustrating how the lack of sanitation turned cities into death traps.
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1(a) – One Aspect Leading to Poor Public Health (1500-1750)
Chosen Aspect: Urbanisation
Main Body Paragraph Structure
Point: Explain how urbanisation specifically led to poor public health.
Example: Provide a specific historical example to illustrate your point. This could be a named city known for overcrowding or a specific disease outbreak linked to urban conditions.
Explanation: Explain WHY your example demonstrates the link between urbanisation and poor public health. Use specific details and potentially some historical figures (e.g., population numbers, death rates).
Potential Paragraph Points
Overcrowding: Explain how the rapid growth of cities led to cramped living conditions, making it easier for diseases to spread.
Lack of Sanitation: Discuss the inadequate or non-existent sewage systems and waste disposal in many urban areas, leading to contaminated water sources and the spread of disease.
Poverty and Poor Housing: Explain how many urban dwellers lived in poverty, leading to poor housing conditions that contributed to ill-health.
Important Considerations
This question only requires ONE aspect, so focus on developing a detailed explanation of your chosen point.
While you can mention other factors briefly, make sure your paragraph focuses on demonstrating your understanding of how your chosen aspect DIRECTLY contributed to poor public health.
Use specific historical vocabulary related to the period 1500-1750 to strengthen your answer.
Extracts from Mark Schemes
1(a)
– 1 mark for any answer that offers an historically valid response drawing on knowledge of characteristic features (AO1)
For 1(a), likely valid responses include: dunghills, gin craze, urbanisation, diet, middens, waste/waste disposal