Urban Pollution And Administration In Early Modern England

The England has been leading the process of world modernization since the 18th to 20th century.In the early modem period,towns in England developed rapidly,but they were accompanied by pollution and disease.Facts have proved that pollution in early modern England has had negative effects on the social and economic development at that time.The introduction mainly discusses the research value and significance,innovation,domestic and foreign writings in this research direction.Since the new century,more and more attention has been paid to the environment,there is a growing number of studies on early modern pollution,inclusions Peter Brimblecombe、Emily Cockayne、Leona J Skelton、William M Cavert.So this study has a good academic values and innovations.The first chapter explores the causes and hazards of early modern pollution.Accompanied with the development of industry and commerce and the gathering of population,British towns are developed with spontaneous and blind.Due to the lack of planning,the population and economic activities are gathered in towns,conflicted with the town’s limited resources,causing pollution,public health deterioration and many other problems.And the public did not have sufficient awareness of environmental protection at that time,is the reason of air,water,waste and noise pollution.These hazards are mainly in the following aspects:to human health,to urban surrounding environment and the social stability.Pollution would cause the destruction of cultural environment and natural environment.On the one hand,it has a negative impact on people’s production and life,resulting in a decline in the people’s happiness index;on the other hand,it also causes a series of disease attacks,including plague,asthma and so on.The second chapter discusses the pollution control measures of governments,the legislation are the most effective measure.During this period of the central act are:1624 Brewery Bill、1690:All Act for Paving and Cleaning the Streets in the Cities of London and Westminster,etc.Local governments such as York,Manchester and the others have proposed the management act to control the pollution problems.In addition,some institutions and officials are responsible for the management of urban environment,such as Pollution Control Committee,Guild Courts,Street Steward,etc;to responsible for the maintenance of public health in the city and the prevention and control of urban pollution.Government has also stepped up the construction of urban health infrastructure,including public toilets,garbage dumps and sewerage systems.The third chapter discusses the social from all walks of life to deal with pollution problems.After the 16th century,most British citizens have awakened of citizen consciousness.In this context,they were coping with pollution problems.But as the vulnerable groups,they are powerless in the face of pollution.Although they as far as possible to fight against the pollution,but under the tide of industrialization,they are unable to fight,so the citizens had to be passively bear the consequences of pollution.During this period,medical and scientific scholars taught citizens how to deal with pollution and protect themselves,Evelyn,Digby and others,for example,proposed to the government of control pollution measures.Thomas Lodge and others have published the Pestilence Handbook to teach people how to keep their environment around and avoid the spread of the disease.Religious figures treat people infected by pollution through the establishment of public welfare hospitals and spiritual consolation.The fourth part discusses the effect and influence of pollution control in early modern times.During this period,urban air pollution was alleviated,urban health was improved,people were set up a certain concept of environmental protection,but the environmental protection law was still blocked.Britain is founded on industry and trade,some members of parliament worried that the prevention and control of pollution will hinder the development of industry and commerce,leading to a decline in Britain’s national strength.We should see that at that time the pollution control were expected to be placed more on the aristocracy and the royalty,according to the wishes of the royal nobles to pollution treatment,but ignored ordinary people’s interests,finally the pollution problem in Britain lasted until the 20th century.From this,we shall realize that whether the environmental governance is successful or not,its goal should be to seek benefits for the broadest masses of people.