People in the Middle Ages have acquired something of a bad reputation when it comes to cleanliness. Fleas and lice were a common problem; emptying chamber pots into the street was done regularly, and there was no running water, apart from nearby springs, rivers, lakes, wells, and cisterns.
During this time, it was common to sleep on dirty straw beds. Rarely-changed straw bedding was a particular paradise for vermin even if some preventative measures were taken.
Could better hygiene have prevented the black death? In this episode, we're looking at hygiene in plague-ridden Europe.
Are. You. Ready?