Brief Summary
This video provides a humorous guide to surviving Victorian London, contrasting the romanticised view with the harsh realities of the era. It covers essential aspects such as avoiding contaminated water, navigating the strict social classes, and the grim realities of working-class life, including child labour and inadequate living conditions. The video also touches on the scientific advancements of the time, highlighting both the positive and negative impacts on society.
- Avoid drinking unfiltered water to prevent diseases like cholera.
- Understand and adhere to the rigid social class system to avoid legal trouble.
- Be aware of the dangers and short life expectancy faced by the working class, especially children.
Intro
The video starts by challenging the romanticised view of the Victorian era often portrayed in media like "Downton Abbey". It suggests that life in Victorian London would be terrifying for someone accustomed to modern luxuries. The video promises to provide essential knowledge for surviving in this era, should one find themselves transported back in time.
Avoiding Contaminated Water
The Industrial Revolution caused London to boom, but also created dense smog and overflowing slums. Drinking water was a major hazard, as the River Thames, the main water source, was heavily contaminated with raw sewage due to the introduction of indoor plumbing and the booming population. John Snow, a proponent of germ theory, linked cholera outbreaks to contaminated water and ended one outbreak by removing the handle of a contaminated well pump. Despite this, the miasma theory, which attributed diseases to foul odours, was still widely believed. To survive, it's advised to boil water or stick to hard liquor to kill germs.
Navigating Social Classes
Understanding and adhering to the strict social class system is crucial for survival. Interacting with a social class higher than your own could lead to arrest. The upper class enjoyed a life of leisure, funded by wealth accumulated through exploitative means. They indulged in trends like "Egyptomania," hosting mummy unwrapping parties where mummies were unwrapped and autopsied, with fragments of the wrappings passed around as souvenirs. Despite their privileged lives, the upper class faced dangers from toxins like arsenic, lead, and mercury in everyday items.
The Realities of Working-Class Life
Life in the working class was harsh, with a high child mortality rate; nearly 60% of working-class children died before the age of five. Children as young as four were forced into labour, working 12 to 18 hours a day in dangerous professions like chimney sweeping or coal mining. Coal miners faced eye damage, respiratory problems, and spine deformation, while chimney sweeps suffered skin damage, lung damage, and the risk of falling or getting stuck in chimneys.
Poverty and Living Conditions
The video describes the limited options available for the homeless and poor. For a penny, one could get a "penny sit-up," which was a seat on a bench for the night, but sleeping was not allowed. A "two-penny hangover" provided a rope to hang over for sleep. For four pennies, one could afford a "4-penny coffin," which was a slightly better option, providing a coffin and a tarp for warmth. Social mobility was virtually non-existent, and the poor were likely to remain in poverty their entire lives.
Scientific Advancements
Despite the harsh conditions, the Victorian era saw significant scientific advancements. These included the discovery of crude oil, Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, and Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone. Germ theory became accepted, and innovations in data visualisation and statistics emerged. The Bessemer process enabled the construction of larger buildings, while advancements in artillery led to their destruction. Radiation was discovered, leading to cancer treatment, and Carl Benz built the world's first car.
