Genevan Hygiene, 1536-1564

Welcome to "Really Calvin, is this an ideal life? A historical podcast." Today, we're peering into the homes and families of 16th-century Geneva, uncovering a world both familiar and alien to our modern sensibilities. Between 1536 and 1564, Geneva's family structure was deeply patriarchal, with women generally occupying subordinate roles, though exceptions did exist. This wasn't just about social norms; it was a response to the harsh realities of the time.

High infant mortality rates and limited hygiene shaped family dynamics and property practices. At the heart of each household stood the patriarch, wielding significant power over family resources and decision-making. Yet, even as Calvin sought to reshape Geneva's morality, some aspects of daily life proved resistant to change. Public baths, for instance, remained sites of potential promiscuity despite Calvin's efforts to regulate them.

Join us as we explore how these family structures and hygiene practices offer a unique window into the complex interplay of tradition, reform, and daily life in Calvin's Geneva.

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This historical popularization podcast is developed as part of the interdisciplinary project entitled "A semantic and multilingual online edition of the Registers of the Council of Geneva / 1545-1550" (RCnum) and developed by the University of Geneva (UNIGE), as part of funding from the Swiss National Scientific Research Fund (SNSF). For more information: https://www.unige.ch/registresconseilge/en.

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