Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society How Filthy was the Renaissance?
Jan 23, 2026
Dr. Julia Martins, a historian specializing in early modern and Renaissance history, dives into the surprising realities of hygiene during the Renaissance. She uncovers misconceptions about bathing, detailing the decline of communal baths and the complexities of early medicinal practices. Julia also discusses urban waste management, revealing efforts to keep cities clean, and explores cultural attitudes toward menstruation. With insights on beauty standards and hazardous cosmetic recipes, listeners get a fascinating look at a period often romanticized yet rife with filth.
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Dissection Rewrote Medical Authority
- Renaissance medicine shifted from soul-focused theory to practical dissection and observation.
- Andreas Vesalius popularised 'trust the body, not just books', reshaping anatomy and hygiene thinking.
Pores Were Medical Thinking's Gateway
- Renaissance hygiene linked health to balancing humors and the 'six non-naturals'.
- Skin pores acted as vital pathways for internal vapors and external 'bad air', so keeping pores right mattered.
Scrub, Don't Stew: Bathing Practice
- Clean the body by frictional rubbing with water and linen rather than long hot baths.
- Use cloths, combs and scrubbing to exfoliate and remove grime while protecting pores.
