As it happened last summer, the current succession waves Heatwave prompts scientists to warn of consequences of climate change it’s just begun. However deniers They complain about this phenomenon that summers have always been hot and that heat waves have occurred long before humans went too far with greenhouse gas emissions. The example they usually cite is the time known as Medieval Warm Periodin which temperatures almost everywhere in the world reached an abnormal peak, slightly exceeding global temperatures in the mid-20th century.
There were no railways, no cars, no electricity. Emissions were those emissions that occur naturally and do not have a harmful effect on the atmosphere. For this reason, the deniers use this period as their main argument against the existence of climate change. The reality is that it is a phenomenon that occurred around between 750 and 1350 ADhad nothing to do with emissions resulting from human activity, but was a natural phenomenon such as BoyThis occurs periodically and results in an increase in temperature, sometimes with greater force and sometimes with a little more moderation.
Whatever the case, it is clear that, apart from climate change, the Middle Ages also had to deal with heat waves. So they had their tricks. So did the Romans and the Egyptians. Despite lacking our current technology, they had the most effective means of combating them. withstand high temperaturesMoreover, in his case the consequences were not as dire as they are now.
Benefits of the Medieval Warm Period
Interestingly, this period, also known as medieval climate anomalywas not seen as something negative. At least not in most of the world.
The rise in temperature has provoked agricultural expansion very important, since it became possible to cultivate land that had previously been too cold for this purpose. Vikings They also benefited greatly because the disappearance of ice in some places in the north allowed them to continue expanding. Moreover, something similar happened in the south. Unfortunately, in America, a region still undiscovered by Europeans, some populations such as Aztec, They had to face a severe drought, which made their life very difficult.
It’s something similar to what’s happening now with changing of the climateThe consequences are not equally bad for everyone, although over time nothing good can come out of its existence.
Heat resistant locks
The first castles were built of wood before the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, this it rotted over time and it was very vulnerable to firesThey could have been produced intentionally by the application of fire, but also accidentally, since we must remember that they were illuminated by fire. candles and torches.
That’s why they started building medieval castles. with a stone. It was a much more durable material, but it also made the rooms much cooler. In the winter, you had to resort to fireplaces in most rooms and other tricks to heat the rooms, but in the summer they were already perfectly conditioned.
The most humble people usually had houses made of wood or clay mixed with manure, which were more difficult to control the temperature in. However, if there were enough quarries in the area, stone frames could be added to the structures, making them stronger and cooler.
What about medieval clothing?
The main problem of abnormal heat in the Middle Ages occurred outside the home. Therefore, it was very important take care of your clothes.
To prevent sun damage to the head and face, doctors of the time recommended using wide-brimmed hats for men and linen scarves for women. Peasants, both men and women, used straw hats. It was also common to use umbrellas.
It makes sense that the goal was not to prevent skin cancer, since nothing was known about it. The goal was to prevent tanning, since it was considered symbol of low social class. As for clothing, although peasants sometimes resorted to nudity, it was something very frowned upon at the time. For this reason, people of the upper classes wore clothing made of light fabrics, often forming curtains with decorations and accessories that let air through.
The Impact of Heat Waves on Health
Besides tanning, people in the Middle Ages wanted to avoid the negative health effects of heat. Franciscan scholastic Bartolome Anglico He even wrote that when the sun was higher, excess electricity was generated. yellow bile which increased the anger episodes. He was referring to the typical discomfort we all feel in the heat, but apparently had little idea of the reasons.
There were also concerns about damage from sunburn. Famous medieval physician Trotula Ruggiero formulated camphor balm to prevent these burns. It would be one of the first precursors to today’s sunscreen. Being dark, it absorbed the radiation and prevented some of it from reaching the cells. But it is not safe at all. Do not use it today.
If the burn has already occurred, other doctors had their own recipes to relieve pain and promote healing. For example, it is recommended boil young ivy leaves in butter and spread the result on the burn.
If you are very hot, take a swim in the river.
In summer, especially during abnormal heat, people often went to rivers to swim in cold water. This happened both in rural areas and in cities. But a problem arose: Very few people knew how to swim.
This led to the Parisian authorities having to ban residents from swimming in the Seine after several drownings occurred. People also bathed naked. We have already seen that nudity had become taboo and considered exhibitionism at the time, so there were many reasons to ban it.
Fires in the Middle Ages
Finally, in the Middle Ages, summer was a time when fires were more frequent, just as they are today.
During the heat wave, the situation became so alarming that some cities had to take emergency measures. For example, residents of Paris had pots of water near the door of your home, so that if necessary, you can put out the fire as quickly as possible.
Also in Spain in some forests fires were banned in the summer it’s exactly the same as now.
The Middle Ages may not have been so different when it came to dealing with high temperatures. But the causes of their heatwaves are very different from ours. Climate change is real, and there is no point in looking the other way.
Source: Hiper Textual
