The great medieval water myth (2013)
17 days ago
- #Medieval History
- #Historical Myths
- #Drinking Habits
- The myth that Medieval people drank beer or wine to avoid bad water is widely believed but not supported by historical evidence.
- Medieval people regularly drank water, often from rivers, ponds, and springs, without any recorded concerns about its healthiness unless it was visibly contaminated.
- Medical authorities of the time, such as Galen and Hildegard of Bingen, had nuanced views on water but did not universally condemn it or recommend alcohol as a substitute.
- Water was commonly used to dilute wine, and there are numerous casual references to people drinking water in historical texts.
- The preference for alcoholic drinks was likely due to taste and variety, not health concerns, as water was a staple for many, especially the poor.
- Interdictions on brewing beer during grain shortages indicate that beer production was not always feasible, further supporting the idea that water was a primary drink.
- Modern misconceptions about Medieval drinking habits may stem from anachronistic assumptions about hygiene and disease.