The Evolution of London Life: 1500-1900

Posted on Aug 17, 2024 in Geography

The Development of Women’s Roles in London (1500-1900)

Thesis: To an alarming extent, women existed to be looked at by men.

Women were active participants in the economy but not equal to men. They can be considered second-class citizens.

Education:

• Prosperous women knew how to read because their mothers taught them.
• For half of the period, schooling was available for women.
• By the end of the period, universities became accessible to women.
• 1867: University College of London became the first university to allow women to study on equal terms with men.
• 1881: Women voted for the first time for the London School Board and were also able to run for the School Board; one woman was elected.

Fashion:

• Women had to wear corsets.
• Women used cosmetics to keep their faces white and avoided the sun to prevent tanning.
• Pale skin was important as it symbolized purity and was associated with high social class.

Actresses and Prostitutes:

• Actresses: As women began to enter the theater, their lower legs became an erotic symbol, as they were used to showing more of their upper body.
• Prostitutes: Became a luxury service, with punishments shifting from public apologies in churches to imprisonment.

Changes for Middle and Upper-Class Women:

• Pulled out of traditional housewife roles (becoming “housewife managers” instead of “housewife cleaners”) as their husbands paid servants to do their work. Their main activities became consuming products and hosting large dinners.
• 17th Century: Women began writing novels.

Poor Women:

Poor women continued to work, taking in lodgers, doing laundry, spinning, or caring for children. Those without homes would go door-to-door offering various services.

Religion:

• Early 1700s: The Shakers, a Christian sect led by a working-class woman with no education (Mother Ann Lee), emerged. The sect emphasized gender separation and celibacy.
• 1869: Queen Victoria denied the existence of lesbianism.

Elizabeth Garrett:

Elizabeth Garrett, despite facing numerous obstacles, became a doctor. She eventually founded a hospital for women, staffed by women, and became an expert on migraines.

The Evolution of Business and Economic Life in London (1500-1900)

From a Christian Economy to One Based on Profit

Before (Christian Economy):

• Guilds: Set fair prices for producers and consumers.
• Cathedrals: Major sellers of food and owners of large markets.
• Monasteries: Offered education and support for the poor.
• Markets & Street Sellers: Covent Garden, for example, brought a market to the middle of the city.

Change:

1536-38: The Dissolution (Henry VIII) led to the dismantling of monasteries, with their land and buildings given to nobles and Parliament.

After (Economy Based on Profit):

• 1572: Royal Exchange became a center of business and luxury retail.
• 1599: East India Company, the first English company created by Royal Charter, was established.
• 1653: Coffeehouses emerged as trading and business places (e.g., Lloyd’s).
• 1651: Navigation Acts regulated trade within the English empire.
• 1660: The Royal Society was founded to promote scientific advancement.
• 1694: The Bank of England was established.
• 1711: The South Sea Bubble, a failed financial scheme, occurred.
• 1826: University College of London was founded.
• 1844: Corn Laws were repealed, leading to free trade.

Conclusion:

London’s economy transitioned from a Christian-based system to one focused on secular and mercantile interests, eventually leading to international competition.

The Evolution of Food and Drink in London (1500-1900)

From Limited Local and Seasonal Diets to Global Variety

Drink:

• Shifted from beer and ale to tea and coffee in the 1670s.
• Water was often polluted, so people primarily consumed alcoholic or boiled drinks.
• Babies were even given low-alcohol beer and cocaine for teething pain.
• Wine was a drink for the wealthy, imported from France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal.
• The Italian company Gaggia invented espresso coffee after World War II.

Food:

• Raw vegetables and fruits were avoided due to fear of contamination. Food was overcooked to prevent poisoning.
• Potatoes and tomatoes didn’t arrive until the 1600s.
• Fish consumption was mandated on certain days, initially for religious reasons and later to support the fishing industry.
• Poor people primarily ate bread, cheese, onions, and pottage (a grain-based stew).
• Bread quality varied based on social class.
• Fresh fruit was often cooked into tarts or pies.
• Sweet foods were popular among the wealthy, who could afford expensive sugar.

Changes in Food Consumption:

• Immigration, imports, and exports introduced new foods like ketchup and deep-fried fish.
• Coffeehouses became popular places to eat and conduct business.
• Specialized shops (e.g., Twinings) emerged, selling specific types of food.
• Technological advancements (pipe water, drainage, refrigeration) transformed food preservation and consumption habits.

The Impact of New Technologies on London Life (1500-1900)

Advancements in technology brought both benefits and challenges.

Positive Impacts:

• 1596: Sir John Harrington invented the flushing toilet.
• 1476: William Caxton introduced the printing press to London.
• 1500s onwards: Clocks and watchmaking flourished.
• Development of weapons, compasses, chronometers, and precision tools.
• Advancements in scientific instruments and science, such as the steam engine.
• 1784: Murdoch invented the steam road locomotive.
• Development of railroads and improved transportation (omnibuses, underground, road systems).
• 1800s: Introduction of streetlights and pavements.
• Improvements in agriculture and landholding practices.

Negative Impacts:

• Job losses and higher unemployment rates.
• Machines replaced human labor, leading to lower wages and a wider gap between social classes.
• Access to technology and scientific advancements was often limited to the middle and upper classes.

Overall, technological advancements significantly shaped London life, bringing both progress and challenges. While innovations improved various aspects of life, they also contributed to social and economic inequalities.