Sanitation In The Roman Empire

Words: 2445
Pages: 10
Open Document
The ancient empire of Rome was a place where sanitation thrived. There were numerous advances in plumbing, sewage, and bathing as well as many other things. With the fall of the Roman Empire came the “Dark Ages” of sanitation which also coincides with the Middle Ages. Gone were the knowledge of aqueducts, baths, and flushing toilets. Instead, they were replaced by garrish cesspits and execrable chamber pots. It was not till the 17th century that sanitation in the world had caught back up to the level of the Roman Empire. And so, with the end of the 17th century came a heightened awareness of sanitation and rapid advancements in the following centuries, or the “Enlightened Age” of sanitation. The development of plumbing and sewage systems as …show more content…
On top of that, the top religion of the Roman Empire of the time, Christianity, believed that bathing was sinful. This was because public baths at the end of the Roman Empire had been places for large sex parties. With the destruction of sanitation facilities and disapproval from the chief religion, the knowledge of proper sanitation died out. The people went back to primitive means of releasing and disposing of waste. By the 15th century, people were still using cesspits and dumping their wastes in the river or on the street. Though there had been laws made in order to improve the sanitation of cities, they were ineffective as they gave people no alternative. For example, laws were made to prevent people from dumping their waste into the Thames River. However, people still did it because there simply no other place to empty their wastes. Minor projects for the improvement of sanitation did appear before the 19th century, but the major improvement of sanitation appeared in the 19th century because of the numerous problems that appeared from urbanization and diseases. The cholera outbreaks in the 19th century brought …show more content…
However, an innumerable amount of lives were also saved because of the higher life expectancy from a cleaner world. It is clear to see that the development of sanitation has created a world where potable water is abundant even in places far away from sources of water, where wastes can be safely and cleanly disposed of in or outside of our homes, and where diseases are easily combatted because of the sanitary environment. In conclusion, the positive effects of the development of sanitation far outweigh the negative effects, more lives being saved than those lost and creating a cleaner
Show More

Related Documents: Sanitation In The Roman Empire

Julius Caesar As A Hero In Killing Caesar By Jon Herman

He gave food to the hungry, created jobs for the unemployed, and basically reconstructed the entire Roman Empire. Julius Caesar was considered a hero to many people because he genuinely cared about the needs of his people. In “Killing Caesar” by Jon Herman it says “Caesar created jobs by building roads, temples, and aqueducts. Fresh water flowed freely in fountains throughout the city. Sanitation, sewage, and food all were seemingly under the control of Caesar.” This shows the heroism of Caesar because…

Words 402 - Pages 2

Essay On Why Did Rome Fall

city in Italy. As it conquered more land for resources and for pride, it expanded vastly. The Roman Empire reigned over 20% of the world's inhabitants at its highest peak under Emperor Hadrian’s rule. But with expansion came innumerable difficulties until it became too much trouble and caused Rome declined. Rome’s conditions grew worse as deplorable, corrupted emperors reigned over the once-thriving empire. Living arrangements were harsh for everyone other than the wealthy. There were disputes within…

Words 681 - Pages 3

Life Exposed In Virgil's The Georgics

When Virgil wrote the Georgics over two thousand years ago, the Roman Empire was in a dreadful state. At the time, Rome had grown into a very large and populated city. As a result, there were consequences. The sewage lines were nonexistent, and displaced people roamed the streets. Also, Civil war and political instability had plagued the Empire. These events led Virgil to write the Georgics, in hopes that it would call people back to the land. This unpleasant time period of the Rome shares qualities…

Words 393 - Pages 2

Essay about History: Ancient Rome and Culture

World Amanda Winter 4/19/2012 Ancient World Time travels but leaves behinds its marks. Every generation that passes, adds to the human civilization. In the history, the most prominent names are of Roman, Greek and Latin civilizations. These civilizations are still known to have put a great impact on society. The impact on trade, law, administration, culture, the religion and the role of the individual are most prominent. Ancient world is considered…

Words 1492 - Pages 6

Apeh Notes Essay

many prosperous peasant families slept in one bed for |protect the doctor from the | |warmth; less prosperous peasants were even worse off |disease. | |Poor sanitation in cities: garbage-filled streets, human excrement, and dead animals | | |Widespread malnutrition prior to the plague led to poor health (e.g. lower immune systems) that made people |…

Words 1609 - Pages 7

Ive Been To The Mountain Top Summary

Mason Temple, Martin Luther King, delivered his last speech to the world before he was shot the next day on the balcony at his hotel. This speech was mainly centered on the concerns and values of the Memphis Sanitation Strike. During this last heart-felt speech King discussed, not just the sanitation strike, but also about overcoming the injustice of inequality, not just for himself, but for all African Americans who, like him, deserve to be treated as if they belong, with respect, and that they should…

Words 1063 - Pages 5

Martin Luther King Jr Civil Rights Speech Analysis

explain his passion through the many different ages in history, but how the age in which he is present, is the one that brings the most satisfaction. He states how he would come upon the many days of significance, in places such as Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, but lets it be known, he wouldn’t stop there. He would travel to the Renaissance, continue on to watch Martin Luther tack on the ninety-five theses to a church door, but still, he wouldn’t stop there. Dr. King said he would go to the day President…

Words 1243 - Pages 5

Individual Nation Report: Syria Essay examples

15.12 deaths/1,000 live births, measles and problems with the respiratory system being the main cause. There are Tuberculosis and Trachoma outbreaks, but these generally fall among the residents of the poor urban areas. “Health conditions and sanitation in the cities, towns, and larger villages are generally satisfactory. Running water is supplied to almost all houses, buildings, and public places. Each municipality maintains its streets and collects refuse regularly. Although the government has…

Words 2276 - Pages 10

Ch 25 Notes Triangular Trade Essay

McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2 The States of West Africa and East Africa   Developed over eighth to sixteenth centuries Kingdom of Ghana     Not related to modern State of Ghana Major gold trader Mali empire, thirteenth century Songhay empire, fifteenth century   Sunni Ali (r. 1464-1493) created effective army, navy Musket-bearing Moroccan army destroys Songhay forces; regional city-states exert local control ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved…

Words 1480 - Pages 6

Accy Vic Essay

housing for the industrial workers was built along new streets and in squares; a few higher status developments, such as Bank Terrace, were also built at this time. By the middle of the century overcrowded living conditions had given rise to major sanitation problems. Many people were living in cramped courts with inadequate drainage, and it was not uncommon for pigs and other animals to be kept in the town. The arrival of the railway in 1848, connecting Accrington with Blackburn, Burnley and Manchester…

Words 1933 - Pages 8