2800 BCE
A soap-like material discovered in Babylon is the earliest evidence that washing compounds were known to ancient civilization.
1600 BCE
The Chinese chew the ends of small sticks made of wood from aromatic trees to soften them for use as toothbrushes and toothpicks.
700 BCE
Cleanliness is prioritized when the female god Hygieia is identified with health after a plague draws attention to sanitary matters.
300 BCE
The earliest known Roman bath is built at Carsulae, Umbria, Italy. Baths become very popular as meeting places.
200 AD
Greek physician Galen recommended soap for both medicinal and cleansing purposes.
1450
The body is seen as taboo in sophisticated Europe, and a layer of filth is seen as protection against illness. As such, dry towels are used to rub only the areas of the body that are visible.
1600
The first modern-style toothbrush is made in China with animal bristles. By 1780, Westerners are making them using neck bristles from Siberian pigs.
1790
Toilets reappear in posh homes across Europe and laws are passed to curb the practice of throwing excrement out of the windows.
1857
The first commercial toilet paper is marketed in New York. It was sold at 300 sheets for US$0.50.
2010
Toto of Japan sells toilet that measure blood sugar, blood pressure and body fat, sending the data to the local doctor with a built-in internet connection.
Malcolm
Info:
Discovery Channel Magazine (August 2010), 24
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