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====Early Bath Houses====

Both ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt have evidence for bathing in private spaces, such as homes and palaces, but public bathhouses are largely absent. In second millennium BC, Akrotiri in Santorini and Knossos in Crete show evidence there were bathing facilities, although these, similar to Mesopotamia and Egypt, may have been for more wealthier individuals or classes. In fact, daily washing in a bathroom may have meant you were wealthy enough to have these facilities in your own private space. In Greece from the first millennium BCE, bathing had a more public aspect, perhaps similar to ancient Indian/Indus cultures. As the Greeks emphasized sports that meant participants were generally naked, where our modern term gymnasium comes from, communal baths for the competitors were required. Even some of the earliest public showers may have developed in baths used for athletes between 500-300 BCEBC.<ref> For more on the development of bathing and bath houses in ancient Greek and east Mediterranean cultures, see: Lucore, S. K., & Trümper, M. (Eds.). (2013). <i>Greek baths and bathing culture: new discoveries and approaches</i>. Leuven ; Walpole, MA: Peeters. </ref>

====Later Bath Houses====[[File:800px-Baths of Diocletian-Antmoose1.jpg|thumbnail|left|350px|Figure 2. The Baths of Diocletian were Rome's largest, and perhaps the wold's at that time, baths.]]As aqueducts and water supply technologies, such as <i>qanats</i>, became more elaborate, public baths developed in more places. The Romans were well known for creating large and elaborate bath houses that sometimes took advantage of natural springs, including hot springs or geothermal springs, as well as supplying water to specific sites using water transport technologies. The Romans probably built the most elaborate bath houses, where bathing was seen as an important aspect of religious worship as well as cleanliness. Bathing was so important to the Romans that there were social expectations that all classes participate in bathing. This led to the practice of the Roman government often commissioning large public baths, which were found in most Roman towns and cities. Rome, itself, had 952 baths of varying size, with the largest public bath from the ancient world being the Baths of Diocletian built in 306 AD (Figure 2). Sometimes baths were associated with temples and religious practice, such as the Roman Baths in modern Bath, UK, where the main temple was dedicated to Minerva/Sulis which was adjoined to a large bath. With this emphasis, baths became not only public but also spaces used to socialize, from meeting potential business partners, to buy and sell products, but also demonstrate one's status in society. In other cases, baths were also sometimes associated with prostitution or just casual sex between different sexes. For the Romans, this was not often seen as a negative social aspect, thus laws did not discourage the use of baths in this way. Baths, therefore, were often used for relaxation and hedonistic pleasure.<ref>For more on the history and social development in relation to public baths in the Roman period, see: Fagan, G. G. (1999). <i>Bathing in public in the Roman world</i>. Ann Arbor [Great Britain]: University of Michigan Press. </ref>

As aqueducts and water supply technologies, such Romans often built baths as <i>qanats</i> became more elaborate, public baths developed one of the first things in more placesa town they conquered or built. The Romans were well known for create large and elaborate bath houses that sometimes took advantage of natural springsPeople would also exercise, including hot springs or geothermal springs, as well as supplying water often to specific sites using water transport technologies. The Romans probably help built the most elaborate bath houses, where bathing was seen as an important aspect of religious worship as well as cleanliness. Bathing was a sweat so important to the Romans that there were social expectations that all classes participate in bathing. This led it is easier to the practice of the Roman government often commissioning large public bathsremove skin and dirt, which were found in most Roman towns and citieswhile they would also be massaged. RomeOil treatments, itself, had 952 baths often of varying sizequality, with the largest public bath from the ancient world being the Baths would be made available to people. There were also two main types of Diocletian built in 306 baths, one hot (Figure 2<i>calidarium</i>) and the other cold (<i>frigidarium</i>). Sometimes The hot baths were associated with temples and religious practice, such also used to make saunas as water was thrown into the Roman Baths in modern Bath, UKheated rooms, where underground heated bricks would heat the main temple was dedicated to Minerva/Sulisfloors and walls. With this emphasisEffectively, Roman baths became not only public but also spaces used began to become similar to our concept of spas, where people go to socializereceive massages, skin treatments, from meeting potential business partnersrelax, to buy and sell products, but also demonstrate onebathe. Roman baths have most likely shaped our concepts of spa treatments and other cultures's status baths that followed in societythe Medieval period. In other casesBath houses continue to spread in many regions, baths were also sometimes associated with prostitution or just casual sex between different sexes. For the Romansincluding in Central Asia and China, this was not often seen as a negative social aspectby at least 200 BC, thus laws did not discourage the use where these regions began having public bath houses. The spread of public baths in this waycould have happened through travelers and merchants that began to connect Eurasia during the Old World. Probably by around 1 AD, bath houses could be found anywhere between Britain and Japan.<ref>For more on the history and social development in relation to public baths of bath houses in the Roman periodOld World and their structure, see: FaganYegül, GF. GK. (19991995). <i>Bathing Baths and bathing in public in the Roman worldclassical antiquity</i>(Paperback ed). Ann Arbor New York: The Architectural History Foundation [Great Britainu.a.]: University of Michigan Press. </ref>

Romans often built baths as one of the first things in a town they conquered or built. People would also exercise, often to help built a sweat so that it is easier to remove skin and dirt, while they would also be massaged. Oil treatments, often of varying quality, would be made available to people. There were also two main types of baths, one hot (<i>calidarium</i>) and the other cold (<i>frigidarium</i>). The hot baths were also used to make saunas as water was thrown into the heated rooms, where underground heated bricks would heat the floors and walls. Effectively, Roman baths began to become similar to our concept of spas, where people go to receive massages, skin treatments, relax, and bathe. Roman baths have most likely shaped our concepts of spa treatments and other cultures' bath that followed in the Medieval period. Bath houses continue to spread in many regions, including in Central Asia and China, by at least 200 BC, began having public bath houses. The spread of public baths could have happened through travelers and merchants that began to connect Eurasia during the Old World. Probably by around 1 AD, bath houses could be found anywhere between Britain and Japan.<ref>For more on the development of bath houses in the Old World and their structure, see: Yegül, F. K. (1995). <i>Baths and bathing in classical antiquity</i> (Paperback ed). New York: The Architectural History Foundation [u.a.]. <dh-ad/ref>

[[File:800px-Baths In the 19th century, municipal governments realized the benefits of Diocletian-Antmoose1public bath houses.jpg|thumbnail|Figure 2. The Baths of Diocletian were Rome's largestWhile rich classes increasingly utilized private baths in their own accommodations or even wealthy public baths, and perhaps the wold's at that timemasses, particularly for public health reasons, needed access to baths.]] ==Modern Concepts of Cleanliness Governments in Europe and Bath Houses== In Europe during the Medieval periodNorth America began to build public baths in major cities, many public bath houses faded away as norms with Liverpool and infrastructure used to sustain bath houses receded after the fall London being some of the Roman Empireearliest cities to sponsor major public baths. In other regionsAlso, contacts with Ottoman Turkey, such as which had inherited the Middle East and Asia, bath houses continued to be used as concept of public spaces even after religious change. In factbaths from centuries before, influenced different cities in Islamic regionsEurope, ritual purity was strongly associated with bathingwhere many Turkish baths were built and became popular. In the UK, requiring public baths to be built in many regionsbecame law under the Baths and Wash-houses Act of 1846. Similar This helped to spread the Romansutilization of baths, once again, this extended to the concept of hot springs having a healing element masses, who still generally lacked any piped water to themtheir accommodations. Thus, it was not only cleanliness that was desired but The building of baths also healing from various physical ailmentsincluded bathing pools. During This then began the Medieval period in Europe, we see contrasts in concepts era of public bathing. At times, there were possible prohibitions against swimming pools that often accommodated public bath houses since they could be places for what was seen as illicit sexual behavior. In other cases, bathing was encouraged not only for cleanliness but it was also seen as a way to improve health, including hot and cold baths helping with stomach and heart problems.<ref>For more on Medieval modern bathsthat developed in the 19th century, see: Sherrow Watson, VS. (20012006). <i>For appearance’ sakeCity publics: the historical encyclopedia (dis)enchantments of good looks, beauty, and groomingurban encounters</i>. PhoenixLondon ; New York: Routledge, Ariz: Oryx Presspg. 83. </ref>

In the 19th centuryFor wealthier classes, municipal governments realized baths were not seen of worth for the benefits of public bath houses. While rich classes increasingly utilized private baths in their own accommodations or even wealth public bathscleanliness they provided but treatment such as through steam treatment, the massesointments, particularly for public health reasonsmassages, needed access to bathsand even exercise. Governments in Europe Special hotels and North America dedicated facilities began to build public baths in major cities, with Liverpool open and London being some focus on wealthy clients. This began the development of the earliest cities modern spas in many regions. It was only after World War I that more typical homes began to have access to sponsor major indoor plumbing. This began then the trend of bathing more regularly at home rather than in public baths. AlsoSoon, contacts with Ottoman Turkey, which had inherited the concept of many people began to frequent public baths from centuries beforeless often, influenced different cities while in Europe, where many Turkish other places baths were builtbecame solely known for various sexual acts. In the UKOverall, major public baths became law under the Baths once again faded in many parts of Europe and Wash-houses Act of 1846North America or receded into an association with prostitution. This helped to spread the utilization of However, public bathshave never entirely disappeared. In Eastern Europe, once againRussia, to the massesMiddle East, who Japan, and other Asian cultures, public baths are still generally lacked any piped water to their accommodationsimportant as a social part of life. The building of In Western States, spas have become more common rather than public baths also included bathing pools. This then began the era of , but larger cities still often retain public swimming pools that often accommodated public bathsor even bathing facilities.<ref>For more on modern baths that developed in the 19th century, including spas, see: WatsonDavis, SG. (20062009). <i>City publicsBath as spa and Bath as slum: the (dis)enchantments social history of urban encountersa Victorian city</i>. London ; New York: RoutledgeLewiston, pgN. 83Y: Edwin Mellen Press.</ref>

For wealthier classes, ====Summary====The function of public baths were not seen of worth for the has always been focused on cleanliness they provided but treatment such as through steam treatment; however, ointments, massages, and even exercise. Special hotels and dedicated facilities began to open and focus on wealthy clients. This began the development of the modern spas in there were many regions. It was only after World War I that more typical homes began to have access other aspects to indoor plumbing. This began then the trend of bathing more regularly at home rather than in public bathsas well. SoonFor some cultures, many people began to go less to public bathswere important religious places, while in other cultures baths also served as places to socialize. Baths were sometimes frowned upon, particularly as baths became solely were also sometimes known for various sexual acts. Overall, major public baths once again faded in many parts of Europe and North America. Howeveror prostitution, but their utility was often even seen during periods when they have never entirely disappearedwere not frequently built. In Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asian culturesmore recent periods, public baths are still important social part of life. In Western States, spas have become more common rather than public baths, but larger cities still often retain public swimming pools or even began to fade as indoor plumbing began to make bathing facilities.<ref>For more on modern baths, including spas, see: Davisof a private act, G. (2009). <i>Bath as spa and Bath as slum: the although social history aspects of a Victorian city</i>. Lewiston, N.Y: Edwin Mellen Pressbaths have not entirely disappeared in many cultures. </ref>

==Summary==References====The function of public baths has always been focused on cleanliness; however, there were many other aspects to public baths as well. For some cultures, baths were important religious places, while in other cultures baths also served as places to socialize. Baths were sometimes frowned upon, particularly as baths were also sometimes known for various sexual behavior between people, but their utility was often even seen during periods when they were not frequently built. In more recent periods, baths began to fade as indoor plumbing began to make bathing more of a private act, although social aspects of baths have not entirely disappeared in many cultures.<references/>