Did everyone just stink in the Dark Ages?

[quakefiend420]

i mean, deodorant wasn't invented yet, right?

and even if it was, the average person only bathing once a week probably couldn't afford it, right?

considering the lower classes were likely dirtier than nobles and such, did most average people just smell bad?

no wonder the upper class thought they were better than them :laugh:

 

[Stumps]

yes...but nobody noticed it as much

 

[Balt]

Many people still smell pretty bad today, so I would guess that they must have really stunk back then.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Honestly, stink is one thing. Those who were truly dirty didn't have such bad body odor because the dirt and mud often blocked their sweat glands.

But once again, keep in mind that what we consider stink these days was probably far less noticed back then becuase it was so common.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Peasant 1: Must be a king!
Peasant 2: How can you tell?
Peasant 1: He hasn't got shit all over 'im.

 

[Ruptga]

If you want to know, go backpacking for two weeks

I did, what I thought was a tan was really a layer of dust, and nobody noticed anyone's BO, except for when we got back to base camp and someone else mentioned it, then some of us got to thinking about it and smelled it to. Myself, I was used to it, and never noticed Best part is, we went swimming in a mountain lake (as an aside, it gave me some perspective on what it was like to go down with the Titantic, so cold), so it's kinda like I had my once a week bath.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I really hope no one imagines things like deoderant, shampoo, conditioner, shoe inserts and dipilatories were invented by "civilized" people interested in hygiene. The things "civilized" people take for granted as a matter of personal cleanliness are no more natural or sophisticated than powdered wigs or codpieces.

 

[raystorm]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Peasant 1: Must be a king!
Peasant 2: How can you tell?
Peasant 1: He hasn't got shit all over 'im.

classic :thumbsup:

 

[zephyrprime]

Yes they did. Go smell some Amish people today. I kid you not.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: quakefiend420
i mean, deodorant wasn't invented yet, right?

and even if it was, the average person only bathing once a week probably couldn't afford it, right?

considering the lower classes were likely dirtier than nobles and such, did most average people just smell bad?

no wonder the upper class thought they were better than them :laugh:

they rubbed patchouli leaves all over themselves.

 

[Rastus]

In the middle ages; most people, of all classes went their entire lives without ever bathing. The once per week bath is an early 20th century innovation.

 

[TehMac]

Originally posted by: Rastus
In the middle ages; most people, of all classes went their entire lives without ever bathing. The once per week bath is an early 20th century innovation.

King John I of England bathed once every week, and that was considered a novelty. King John reigned ~1199-1216, he is most commonly associated with the Robin Hood classic.

 

[BoomerD]

In days of old,
When knights were bold,
(Before toilets were invented,)
They laid their load,
In the middle of the road,
And walked away contented...

 

[dennilfloss]

Oral sex was less popular back then.

 

[Coquito]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
Oral sex was less popular back then.

Guys filled their codpieces with fresh rosemary every morning.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: dennilfloss
Oral sex was less popular back then.

i would imagine :laugh:

 

[TehMac]

hahaha

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: zephyrprime
Yes they did. Go smell some Amish people today. I kid you not.

I meet Amish people on a nearly daily basis. I do some business with them. A significant portion of my community is Amish. I can't recall ever smelling body odor on an Amish person.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

I would imagine with all of the livestock, horse shit, total lack of sanitation, honey pots, open sewers and other sources of foulness... Someone's BO would probably get lost in the fray.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Rastus
In the middle ages; most people, of all classes went their entire lives without ever bathing. The once per week bath is an early 20th century innovation.

Don't forget that there were other civilizations that had hygienic standards. For example, I'm guessing that in ancient Rome, people didn't walk around covered with decades worth of dirt and stink.

 

[Epic Fail]

You get used to it.

After you let go a big one, you don't smell it until you go out and come back in.

 

[quakefiend420]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
I would imagine with all of the livestock, horse shit, total lack of sanitation, honey pots, open sewers and other sources of foulness... Someone's BO would probably get lost in the fray.

lawl...good point

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Kadarin

Originally posted by: Rastus
In the middle ages; most people, of all classes went their entire lives without ever bathing. The once per week bath is an early 20th century innovation.

Don't forget that there were other civilizations that had hygienic standards. For example, I'm guessing that in ancient Rome, people didn't walk around covered with decades worth of dirt and stink.

The Romans had elaborate bathhouses to go and bathe in, though the lower classes probably didn't bathe as often as the wealthy.

 

[IGBT]

..when the stink got too bad they were fed to the lions.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: quakefiend420
i mean, deodorant wasn't invented yet, right?

and even if it was, the average person only bathing once a week probably couldn't afford it, right?

considering the lower classes were likely dirtier than nobles and such, did most average people just smell bad?

no wonder the upper class thought they were better than them :laugh:

That is how and why the French invented Perfume. People often bathed once a year and any more than that was considered unhealthy (in certain cultures).