UrbanLife4

Isaac Siegel 4/1/10 8-4 **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?** Life for those who lived in London and other urban areas during the Elizabethan era was very interesting and enjoyable. London was as prosperous and peaceful as it had ever been before. The cities were growing in size and importance.
 * Answer Prepared by: Isaac Siegel**

Homes in London were very peculiar. According to Gail Stewart, author of __Life in Elizabethan London__ there were no marked addresses on the homes, “but colorful signs hanging above the doors of the shops made it easy for people to locate a particular house” (33). The houses were extremely close together, and tradesmen and merchants almost always lived above or behind their shops (33). “The ceilings and walls of most homes were plaster, but in the houses of the wealthy they were paneled with intricately carved oak (34). Parents often shared their bedroom and sometimes bed with younger children (33). If the family had a servant or an apprentice, they usually lived in the home as well (33). Floors of London homes were either wood or stone. To make floors feel warmer or softer, the residents would spread a very thick coat of straw on them (33). The downside to the rush floors was the stench that they created. Some wives of the homes would try to combat the problem by spreading a mixture of herbs and wildflowers throughout the rushes (33). Glass windows became very popular during this era, and the wealthy would pay large sums of money to own a home with many of them (34). Most people could only afford one or two windows. There were many distinct differences between Elizabethan era homes and modern homes.

Life in the homes during this era must’ve been very inconvenient. According to Gail Stewart, author of __Life in Elizabethan London__, “All houses- no matter how wealthy- lacked central heating systems” (34). People burned wood or coal in their stoves or fireplaces to warm their homes. Possibly the most inconvenient part of life in Elizabethan times was the lack of running water (38). The wealthiest families had their own conduits, a pipe or tunnel through which water can pass, but the average family had to carry their water by hand from nearby conduits or cisterns (38). Some families hired carriers, who were known as cobs, to carry their water for them. Water was rarely drunk in London; it was usually very foul smelling and had a salty taste, especially if came from the Thames River (38). “Water was used mainly for cooking, cleaning, and, occasionally, for bathing” (38). Bathing was most certainly not a priority for the people of the time (40). The large tubs took up valuable space in the cramped homes and the amount of water needed took very long to heat (40). Therefore, most people rarely bathed. Instead of toilets, the Elizabethans used chamber pots, or sometimes called Jordans. Chamber Pots were portable containers, usually made of metal or clay, which were used for storing human waste (40). It was emptied after being used by either the servant or the user (40). Life seems like such a luxury now-a-days when compared to life in Elizabethan London.

There were so many different occupations during this time. According to Kathryn Hinds, author of __Life in Elizabethan England__, about three-fourths of men were members of livery companies (34). Almost every craft or trade had a company oversee it and mange it (34). The company controlled the training, career advancement, manufacturing standards, prices of the business they were overseeing (34). Gentlemanly professions are occupations in which a man does not have to work with his hands or do any physical labor (37). A merchant belongs in this category because they did not personally sell goods but made financial and other arrangements for sales, purchases, imports, and export (37). Many gentlemen had jobs in the government and court (37). These jobs were only available to the upper class. Being a gentleman also opened up doors to higher education (37). If you were educated, you would most likely choose a career in medicine, church, or the law (39). If you were poor or not in the upper class, your profession would likely be a servant, tailor, shoemaker, carpenter, brick maker, mason, or any other job that involved manual labor. No matter what level of the social class you belong too, you will most likely have more than enough choices for a career.

Living during this time period must have been very exhilarating. Everything is so different these days. There were definitely many difficulties for the average London citizen but the pro’s most definitely out-weigh the cons! **Works Cited** Ferris, Julie. //Shakespeare's London//. New York: KingFisher Publications , 2000. Print. Laroque, Francis. //The Age of Shakespeare//. Italy: Abrams, 1991. Print. Stewart, Gail. //Life in Elizabethan London//. Farmington Hills: Lucent Books, 2003. Print.

__.Links and Photos__



This is a link to a website called the Elizabethan Era which has tons of info about London and other cities and things during the Elizabethan era... @http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/