The Changing Life of the People

Before and After 1750

Marriage and the Family Extended and the Nuclear Families

Previous thought – Extended families gives way to Industrialism

New thought – Extended family was a rarity in western and central Europe by 1700

Parents would move in with their children rather than the reverse

Who Married ,When and Why

Many never married

Those that did, married late – 27 yrs old

Economic conditions Peasant sons would wait for inheriting

land

Peasant daughters would have to accumulate a dowry

Marriage Ceremony

Why… continued Community controls

Many needed permission from local officials

Poor would be discouraged because they became a burden on the community

Work Away from Home Boys would go where the work was

Sometimes as an apprentice at 14 – forbidden to marry

Always subject to economic fluctuation

Girls jobs were more limited• Domestic service was most common• Physical and mental abuse by the mistress of the house• Sexually exploited by family and friends of family

“The Carnival”Social Inversion

Premarital Sex and Community Controls

Up until 1750 illegitimacy was rare

Premarital sex was common Going steady Promised

Community controls Open field systems led to patterns

of cooperation Moved quickly to protect unwed

mother Carnival Season – humiliation

rituals

Community Controls…continued

Family planning was up to the couple Contraception; 1700’s in urban areas-

sheath

Created by Fallapio in 1564. He claimed to have invented a linen sheath,, as protection against syphilis

Coitus interruptus- Withdrawal

The Cottage Industry

Cottage industry – wages made people independent Courtship becomes freer

New Patterns of Illegitimacy

1750 to 1850 – “Illegitimacy Explosion” Germany – rose to 25% France 36%

More women were active Fewer men would marry Cottage industry – wages made

people independent Courtship becomes freer

Illegitimacy…continued Urbanization – growing population

sent villagers to the city Mobility … not subject to traditions Promises were made, but not kept?

Sincere or not?

Children and Education If the couple lived to 45 they had six

or more children One in three or one in five died -

depending on social class Parents neglect was a reason for

mortality: Vicious circle Schools

Most never learned to read but literacy was growing

The book hungry Public

Child Care and Nursing Lower class women breast fed

Longer then today Reduces chance of pregnancy Increases immunities

Upper-class rarely breast fed Hired a wet nurse Middle class women used a wet nurse

so she could go to work

Wet Nursing Women were exploited

If they dried they were fired Their own babies were neglected

Attitudes toward the nurses Passed their bad traits to babies Killing nurses – let the baby die to take

another fee

Foundlings and Infanticide

Christian Church through Jewish scriptures denounce practice

Overlaying … Austria made it illegal to take toddlers to bed with them.

Abortions were rare and dangerous Foundlings – St Vincent de Paul. The

wealthy donate to the cause… demonstrates social concern

Foundlings continued… Even so, by 1770 1/3 of all babies

born in Paris were abandoned. 1/3 of those were from married couples… The working poor. ½ of these died early

Attitudes Toward Children

A minor concern of parents regardless of class- High infant mortality

“ One blushes to think of loving one’s children But … What about evolution But… What about Christianity Child mortality rates were high so don’t

become attached? No doctors for the children Vicious circle …

Attitudes… continued When attention was given was often

abusive

“Spare the rod, spoil the child.”

Mother of John Wesley “conquer the will of the child.”

Cry silently to avoid more punishment

Attitudes… Early paupers were beaten in

factories because it was considered normal

Enlightenment ideas appear Rousseau.. Emile 1762

Greater love and tenderness Nurse your own child Stop swaddling

Schools and Popular Education

Aristocrats 16th century often sent children colleges –

Jesuits

Elementary education for the common – 18th century Boys and girls 7-12

Literacy and religion The Reformation fostered education…

competition for the mind of the people Prussia leads the way 1717... Mandatory

elementary ed. Literacy rates skyrocket from 1600-1800.

What Did They Read? The educated public – Philosophical

works

The commoners… The Bible Chap books Fairy tales, Fictions, Adventures

Morality lessons Almanacs – practical information

Food and Medical Practices

The poor … Grains - bread, wine and beer and some vegetables, fruit was uncommon… Feel full

Ate less meat in the 1700’s then in the 1500’s Poor were not allowed to hunt game.

The Just Price… bread was important.

Against free market ideas So what this is bread

Diets… Continued The wealthy

Meat and more meat Cheeses, nuts, sweets Alcohol and more alcohol

Middle class – mixture of all

England, Holland’s poor ate best among the poor.

The Impact on health The poor lacked important vitamins

– A and C The rich had gout The middle class mixed their diet. The potato… A and C 18th century tropical fruits appeared

in maritime Europe White bread Sugar

Medical Practitioners The Enlightenment – courses are created Women were restricted by the 1700’s Faith healers – the countryside Apothecaries – Purging Physicians

Men Wealthy Served the wealthy Practices – Bloodletting and purging

Surgeons – war allowed for practices to advance

Medicine… continued The Midwife

Witch hunt craze Doctors helped eliminate the tradition But may still remained

The Hospital Dirty Enlightenment – hospital reform Mental hospitals – discipline, the lunatic, male

masturbation… epilepsy, acne, and premature ejaculation…

Quacks … electricity Small Pox … inoculation… Jenner

Religion and Popular Culture

Religion Church was woven into society Charity Education Priest for Protestants was no longer the

intermediaries. Catholics less subject to the Pope… State

controls Church Jesuits… 1773 were dissolved by Rome. Abolition of contemplative orders… Edict of

Idle Institutions… Austria

Protestant Revival Germany – Pietism

Warm emotional religion Priesthood for all believers Christianity in everyday affairs

John Wesley – Methodists – England Church of England was corrupt Took his emotional appeal to the people Rejects predestination

Catholic Piety Condemns paganism

Festivals were to remember Biblical events

The Piety of the people and the theological purity was mostly a compromise

Leisure and Recreation Carnival… wild release

Oral tradition for the common

Drinking and talking in a public place, taverns.

More Gin being made

Leisure Commercialization

Fairs Entertainment Blood sports

Gambling Wedge grows between the common

and the elite