Changes

Cremation, at its origin, seems to have been a practice that was done along with inhumation of the deceased. By the early historical periods in the Bronze Age, we begin to see some cultures having more specific burial practices, often only selecting inhumation or cremation. Some societies, such as in Europe, often switched between the two. By the Christian era, a stark divide emerged between Western regions in the Middle East and Europe and east East Asia. In east East Asia, cremation practices spread with Buddhism, as that religion spread, while in the Western regions cremation became prohibited and sinful, with rare exception performed on those seen as criminals or against Christianity. It was only in the late 19th century, with high population growth and the desire to prevent disease spread, that authorities slowly relaxed laws prohibiting cremations. Soonafter, cremation facilities throughout Europe and the United States opened.