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In their attempts to remain free from disease, people in earlier centuries faced a number of serious challenges.

Poverty and malnutrition

Poverty and malnutrition were common as many people struggled to afford to eat a healthy diet. Most people in medieval Britain were peasants who relied on the crops they grew and their few animals to survive. It is estimated that 20 per cent of families living in the countryside had enough land to grow food for themselves, but the rest did not. As a result, many of them had to find a way to buy extra food for their families with the little money they made from food that they could grow.

A poor harvest would make food more scarce and more expensive. This made people even more prone to disease. Children were particularly vulnerable and it is estimated that 30 per cent died before the age of seven.

Famine

Famine was a constant threat as most people only had just enough food to survive under normal circumstances. During the Great Famine of 1315-17, it is thought that 10 per cent of Britain’s population died. People often had to eat all their animals and the following year’s seed, which created problems in future years.

Sometimes famine was caused by conflict. For example, during the Harrying of the North in 1069-70, the Normans destroyed farms in the north east of England as a punishment for rebellion. It is estimated that 100,000 people died from starvation as a result.

War

War was an ever-present part of life. English monarchs frequently fought wars against enemies at home and abroad. Viking invasions of Britain lasted from the 8th to the 11th century. They were followed by the Norman invasion later in the 11th century. Wars were also fought in other countries, such as the Hundred Years’ War with France (1337-1453). There were also significant civil wars for control of the kingdom, particularly the Anarchy (1135-1153) and the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487).

Battles were often fought at close range and brutal. At the Battle of Towton in 1461, it is believed that 28,000 men died. This was 1 per cent of the English population. Armies also lived off the land, taking food from peasants and burning their houses and fields. This added to the peasants’ problems.

Everyday life

There were also many aspects of ordinary life that could lead to injury and illness:

• Wooden buildings made fire a major hazard.
• Contaminated food caused many deaths.
• Street accidents involving carts or animals were common.
• Accidents at work were also common, as 21st century health and safety practices were not in place.
• Travel also had its dangers. Finding safe shelter at night and avoiding robbers were among the most common problems.
• Childbirth was one of the most serious threats to women's health.

Some of these threats diminished over time. However, issues such as poverty and malnutrition remained problematic into the 19th century and beyond.