If somebody from the 15th Century was stood in front of you, wearing jeans and a top, do you think you’d be able to tell they were from a different era?!

[Parrotanne]

I’m bored! I know that people are said to have become taller as the centuries pass but I wondered if there would be any other discernible differences. Differences that would be obvious just by looking - the 15th C speech would most likely be a bit of a clue!

So if, for instance, 15th C person was stood in front of you at the bus stop, dressed in Boden/Primark/Next/Any High Street Shop would you realise something was a bit different?!

I feel like I read somewhere that Queen Elizabeth bathed once a month, and was thought reckless and overly persnickety because commoners bathed once in six months!

No I wouldn't. People are just humans whatever century they were born into. Although I'm thinking about the caveman character in Ghosts, is it Robin? I'd notice him but probably deduce he's going to a fancy dress party in character!

@seekingadvice23

What did women use when on their period? Must have been so uncomfortable!

Cloth rags that could be washed and reused.

they might be very short with bad teeth but unless they wear the jeans and t-shirt in a weird way probably not.

Presumably not but I know what you mean; it's a weird thought isn't it? We know they were the same as us intellectually and physically but culturally acquired values, knowledge and skills are so key to who we are that they seem far removed in many ways.
It's hard to believe I would probably have been a theist who broadly agreed with a hierarchical social order with those at the top end being "betters" and in rigid gendered roles and brutal corporal punishment. I would have drawn people without depth and perspective and hit my dog and my children when they did something wrong.

I think the look of bemusement or terror would be the main thing to stand out. Things like teeth are going to depend on social class as will physical deformities ie: skeletons of archers are affected by the years of practice. I think if you started to talk to them it would become obvious pretty quickly that whilst they have the same basic emotions - anger, jealous, love etc - they are grounded in a totally different world view.

Flip side. If you ended up in the 15th century how would you ensure you could fit in and not stand out whilst also ensuring you don't die due to not applying modern knowledge. For example, I'd want to practice hygiene and disease control but not be taken for a witch.

@MotionActivatedDog

I’d spot them by their nosegay of course!

And their pomander perhaps?!

Smallpox scars would have been quite common, but maybe they could be mistaken for acne scars?

I like this thread OP. I have similar thoughts - looking at old portraits and trying to imagine the sitters as modern people!

So the, er, chaotic-looking people hanging around the local bus station have actually arrived via a time portal

If we're only allowed to look then I'd think plague scars might be a clue.

Apart from that I think they'd be noticeably smaller than most of us, have a few missing teeth and breath that would knock you out if the general poor personal hygiene hadn't already.

This thread is making me remember Catweazle. Has anyone read that? I remember laughing so much at it!

@terrywynne

I think the look of bemusement or terror would be the main thing to stand out. Things like teeth are going to depend on social class as will physical deformities ie: skeletons of archers are affected by the years of practice. I think if you started to talk to them it would become obvious pretty quickly that whilst they have the same basic emotions - anger, jealous, love etc - they are grounded in a totally different world view.

Flip side. If you ended up in the 15th century how would you ensure you could fit in and not stand out whilst also ensuring you don't die due to not applying modern knowledge. For example, I'd want to practice hygiene and disease control but not be taken for a witch.

Also an intriguing question. As an Asian, I think I would have been automatically enslaved or burnt at the stake for having Hindu religious items. I would have to hide my Ganesh idol and lie very low.

What are the odds they'd have smallpox scars?

Would they have a couple of lice adorning their outfit?

@Parrotanne

This thread is making me remember Catweazle. Has anyone read that? I remember laughing so much at it!

yes he was always staring in wonder at the 'telebone'

They might not have bathed a lot, but they did wash!

And ‘electrickery’!

Haven't read Catweazle but I remember the TV show. It was quite a...raw portrayal.

I'd be surprised if it got made without a lot of sanitising and upcycling these days

@MareofBeasttown perhaps you could pass yourself off as the representative of a wealthy Asian kingdom looking for trading opportunities. You might not be trusted (being a foreigner and all) but it might save you from heresy charges...

@Parrotanne

I’m bored! I know that people are said to have become taller as the centuries pass but I wondered if there would be any other discernible differences. Differences that would be obvious just by looking - the 15th C speech would most likely be a bit of a clue!

So if, for instance, 15th C person was stood in front of you at the bus stop, dressed in Boden/Primark/Next/Any High Street Shop would you realise something was a bit different?!

They would probably look like most homeless on the street stereotypes - filthy hair, rotten teeth, stink, but would also be really short too. They would also look much older than their age. So a 25 yo would probably look like our 50.

I think from the 15th century they would have good teeth as there was no sugar. It’s rich people from the 16th century who would have terrible teeth (like Elizabeth 1).

I expect their nails and hairstyles would be a giveaway.

I don't think they'd have bad teeth?

Our teeth don't go bad naturally....it's sugar that does it.

They would probably be a healthy weight but potentially appear under weight to twenty first century eyes.

[quote terrywynne]@MareofBeasttown perhaps you could pass yourself off as the representative of a wealthy Asian kingdom looking for trading opportunities. You might not be trusted (being a foreigner and all) but it might save you from heresy charges...[/quote]
Yes, posing as a Mughal envoy might be the best way out, except envoys weren't usually women, so maybe best pose as a Mughal princess.

Also I don’t think they would necessarily look unhealthy. Few of them would be obese, for a start, and if they were peasants they would be fit from all the manual labour.

16th century people probably didn’t smell because they wore linen undergarments that absorbed the smell and were changed frequently. I don’t know about 15th century people.