The impact government had on public health during the Roman Essay Example

financial resources. Although the Romans were unaware of bacteria and the actual causes of diseases, they noticed that swamplands led to illness and that inadequate access to clean water harmed one's well-being.

The Roman public health system was more advanced than any European system for the next 1,400 years, until the end of the Roman Empire in AD 476. In England during the Middle Ages, especially in the Dark Ages, public health systems collapsed. The responsibility and need to provide public health was no longer felt by medieval governments and wealthy individuals. Instead, money was spent on useless things like armies and defenses for the ongoing wars that occurred during this time. Fresh, clean water and waste removal were not prioritized.

The streets were frequently utilized for disposing of slaughterhouse waste and the waste from chamber pots in people's homes. Measures were only taken to address this issue during disease outbreaks like the Black Death, a bubonic plague epidemic that spread throughout England. When the plague reached England in 1348, Edward III commanded the lord mayor of London to improve the cleanliness of the streets in the capital city and prohibit the presence of animals and slaughterhouses within the city. Furthermore, public toilets were to be implemented, and the disposal of waste on the streets was banned.

Despite the subpar implementation, advancements persisted until the 14th century. It is important to note that not all individuals in medieval times were uneducated; churches often accommodated learned scholars who examined Roman historical writings and promoted good habits. Hence, I argue that the welfare of a society is affected by the caliber of leadership. The Romans possessed substantial riches and

prioritized public health, resulting in their populace enjoying lengthier lives as opposed to those residing in medieval times.

During the medieval period, the Romans prioritized war, acquiring wealth, and enslaving others over their own welfare. However, it is important to acknowledge that in 4 BC, Rome had a population of around 1,000,000 – considerably larger than London's population of approximately 40,000 by 1400 after losing a third of its residents during the outbreak of the plague in the mid-14th century.