Early civilisations layouts to avoid disease

[Imperial Dave]

https://theconversation.com/socially-distanced-layout-of-the-worlds-oldest-cities-helped-early-civilization-evade-diseases-239586

Really doesn't surprise me at all....

[Jim Webster]

https://theconversation.com/socially-distanced-layout-of-the-worlds-oldest-cities-helped-early-civilization-evade-diseases-239586

Really doesn't surprise me at all....

I remember reading somewhere that it wasn't until the 19th century that European cities were 'self sustaining' in that prior to that they'd needed a constant migration in from rural areas to keep their populations up.

[Ian61]

https://theconversation.com/socially-distanced-layout-of-the-worlds-oldest-cities-helped-early-civilization-evade-diseases-239586

Really doesn't surprise me at all....

I remember reading somewhere that it wasn't until the 19th century that European cities were 'self sustaining' in that prior to that they'd needed a constant migration in from rural areas to keep their populations up.

Come to Rome and die of any of several nasty causes. and many did. The book Pathogenisis by Dr Kennedy did not paint a pleasant picture - the baths were equivalent of swimming in a (albeit diluted) sewer.

[Erpingham]

A city remains an excellent place to spread disease.  Having spent days in crowded spaces, some of which were poorly ventilated train carriages, my immune sytem had plenty of novel illnesses to sample on my trip to London last week.  Result, absolute stinker of a cold 

[Keraunos]

Come to Rome and die of any of several nasty causes. and many did. The book Pathogenisis by Dr Kennedy did not paint a pleasant picture - the baths were equivalent of swimming in a (albeit diluted) sewer.

I don't know that book, but have read a detailed account of the bathing systems in old Moscow, which had a strict hierarchy of users.  The rich nobles got the fresh hot water.  Ordinary burghers got second use.  The lowest Ivans made do with lukewarm, third use water.  Trickle down theory at work?  Were Roman baths the same?

[Ian61]

Come to Rome and die of any of several nasty causes. and many did. The book Pathogenisis by Dr Kennedy did not paint a pleasant picture - the baths were equivalent of swimming in a (albeit diluted) sewer.

I don't know that book, but have read a detailed account of the bathing systems in old Moscow, which had a strict hierarchy of users.  The rich nobles got the fresh hot water.  Ordinary burghers got second use.  The lowest Ivans made do with lukewarm, third use water.  Trickle down theory at work?  Were Roman baths the same?

Let's just say it wasn't just your fellow citizens floating around in the water

[Nick Harbud]

Come to Rome and die of any of several nasty causes. and many did. The book Pathogenisis by Dr Kennedy did not paint a pleasant picture - the baths were equivalent of swimming in a (albeit diluted) sewer.

A bit like taking a dip in Windemere since United Utilities took over the effluent treatment then?   

[Ian61]

Come to Rome and die of any of several nasty causes. and many did. The book Pathogenisis by Dr Kennedy did not paint a pleasant picture - the baths were equivalent of swimming in a (albeit diluted) sewer.

A bit like taking a dip in Windemere since United Utilities took over the effluent treatment then?   

Indeed Nick, an unfortunately all too accurate analogy.

[Imperial Dave]

 

[Keraunos]

I once read somewhere that each litre of the River Danube goes through about a dozen people before it reaches the sea. 

[Ian61]

I once read somewhere that each litre of the River Danube goes through about a dozen people before it reaches the sea. 

There is similar often said about the Thames (and probably other rivers too) but the maths doesn't actually actually stack up. However provided it is treated properly it shouldn't matter.

[Erpingham]

There used to be a saying in London that Thames water must be good because it had all been passed by the inhabitants of (insert town upstream here).