How Would You Have Died in the 1600s?

Discover your grim fate in the 17th century

The 17th century was an era of grand empires and scientific discovery, but also one of extreme peril. Disease, warfare, and harsh justice made life famously short and unpredictable. How would you have fared in this dangerous period? Answer a few questions, and our analyzer will reveal your likely fate in the 1600s.

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A photograph of an old cemetary in a forest.

Common Fates of the 17th Century

Historical records from the 1600s tell a deadly story. Before modern medicine, things like "bad air" or even a simple toothache could be a death sentence. From the plague to common fevers, reaching old age was rare. Here are some of the most frequent ways people met their end.

  • The Ague: A sickness that involved a high fever, like Malaria or Typhoid.
  • Consumption: Now known as Tuberculosis, consumption was a lung infection that caused slow, gradual deterioration.
  • Apoplexy: An older name for having a stroke, which can cause unconsciousness and even paralysis.
  • Dropsy: Swelling caused by a variety of ailments, like heart failure or kidney disease.
  • Tooth infection: In the 1600s, an infected tooth could lead to deadly blood poisoning.

About This Article

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Kyle Hall
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wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Hall. Kyle Hall works on the content team at wikiHow. He helps manage our team of editors and creates content for a variety of wikiHow projects. Kyle continually looks for new ways to improve the content at wikiHow and make it more helpful and enjoyable for readers. He graduated from Eckerd College in 2015, where he majored in Political Science. This article has been viewed 1,078 times.
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Co-authors: 2
Updated: February 27, 2026
Views: 1,078
Categories: History
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,078 times.

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