UrbanLife1


 * WHAT WAS LIFE LIKE FOR THOSE WHO LIVED IN LONDON AND OTHER URBAN AREAS? HOW DID THOSE IN URBAN AREAS LIVE? ** **WHAT WERE COMMON OCCUPATIONS, WHAT WERE HOMES LIKE, AND SO ON?**

Answer prepared by: Addie L.

Life in London in the Elizabethan Era was dangerous. There was a lack of sanitation so disease spread rapidly. In 1348-1350, The Black Death was one of the worst killers; it killed around half of the European population, says A. H. Dodd from the book __ Life in Elizabethan England __. Also, crime was very atrocious during this period and London was extremely dangerous and treacherous. At night there were few lights and no police, therefore crime filled the streets and danger lurked every corner. Even King George II was robbed in his own driveway! Sadly, the destitute lived unfortunate lives as well and had to work tough jobs. The impecunious were either chimney sweeps or toshers, who were people that searched the sewers for valuables. Also, they worked as bone-pickers, rat-catchers and other dirty jobs. Unfortunately, they had to live in damp, dull, overcrowded rooms called flophouses where they were forced to live with several families. City life wasn’t always considered the safest and most desirable place for living.

London became more and more prosperous as the years went on. Highways were beginning to be built more and more. Houses began to get larger and many grew to be five stories high. Houses were made mainly of brick. Businesses in this time were growing since the economy was just starting to rise again. Manufacturing was done on a smaller scale and was held in households and small shops. Trade also was flourishing; the cities were growing in size and they were growing in importance as well, William W. Lace explained in his book titled __ Elizabethan England __. Trade flourished, making major ports like London expand even more. London was skyrocketing and becoming very successful.

London underwent a transformation during this time period. Its population grew nearly 400%. The city was the center for commerce and entertainment and so it seemed, full of luxury. Slowly but surely, London was attempting to clean up the filthy streets. Manure, rats, insects, litter and many other various items filled the roads and ditches.

Dodd, A. H.. //Life in Elizabethan England //. New Ed ed. Ruthin: John Jones Publishing, 1999. Print. Lace, William W. //Elizabethan England //. NYC: Lucent Books, 2000. Print. Picard, Liza. //Elizabeth's London: Everyday Life in Elizabethan London //. New York, New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2005. Print. Rowse, A. L.. //The Elizabethan Renaissance //. 2nd ed. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 2003. Print. Webb, Betony Toht. //Daily Life in Ancient and Modern London //. Minneapolis: Lerner Pub Group, 2000. Print .
 * Works Cited:**

This link has a great informative list of the common occupations of the people during this time period. This is what urban London looked like during the Elizabethan Era. This is a map of all of the landmarks and the Thames River.