Disease In The Elizabethan Era

The Renaissance was a time of great rebirth and enlightenment across Europe. In England it was particularly beneficial, bringing with it great advances in literature and art. One of the main factors that caused many of the changes of the time was disease. The two most prominent diseases of the period were the Black Death and Syphilis, with each disease affecting patients differently, thus resulting in different outcomes. Disease like the Black Death and Syphilis greatly impacted the culture of the Elizabethan era.

Diseases worked their way into society and affected all parts of life. At the time of the Renaissance, the two most important facets of life were art and government. The Black Death and Syphilis were able to greatly affect both

The effects started broad and eventually became more specific. Rather than affecting government as a whole, disease affected specific parts of the government. Pre-Renaissance England was equipped with a well functioning government causing society to also function well. As a result of the initial outbreak of the Black Death in the twelfth-century, England lost over one-half of its population. After this first outbreak, “the upper orders of English society drew together into a more cohesive government” (Palmer 1). Losing one-half of its population put England at a serious disadvantage. It was not until after the occurrence of such a drastic decline in population that the government was forced to modify itself in an attempt to handle such a change. Such a drastic change in the government itself also required legislation to be readdressed and for new laws to be

These topics were no longer regarded in a light manner. People began to be fearful. As a result, new legislation was introduced and existing laws were altered in an attempt to appease the masses. This public fear of disease could be seen “behind the increasing severity with which disease-control legislation was enforced” during the Renaissance (Oram 26). A prime example of legislation that was readdressed was the Quarantine Rule. This existing law reinforced with new preventative measures. The punishment for breaking these laws regarding disease were not light. Breaking said laws were considered criminal acts. These criminal acts were now punishable by death. No matter how simple the crime, a punishment was faced. A man who concealed his wife’s death was “hanged before his own door” (Oram 26). Out of the sheer fear of the effects that disease and plague left in their wake, preventative measures were taken by society. New legislation was introduced to prevent further outbreaks of these diseases plaguing the European continent. Existing legislation was altered to combat the response of the masses to these diseases. And as a result, the breaking of some of these laws faced the consequence of capital