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→Modern Concepts of Cleanliness and Bath Houses
In Europe during the Medieval period, many public bath houses faded away as norms and infrastructure used to sustain bath houses receded after the fall of the Roman Empire. In other regions, such as the Middle East and Asia, bath houses continued to be used as public spaces even after religious change. In fact, in Islamic regions, ritual purity was strongly associated with bathing, requiring public baths to be built in many regions. Similar to the Romans, this extended to the concept of hot springs having a healing element to them. Thus, it was not only cleanliness that was desired but also healing from various physical ailments. During the Medieval period in Europe, we see contrasts in concepts of public bathing. At times, there were possible prohibitions against 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 baths, see: Sherrow, V. (2001). <i>For appearance’ sake: the historical encyclopedia of good looks, beauty, and grooming</i>. Phoenix, Ariz: Oryx Press. </ref>
In the 19th century, municipal governments realized the benefits of public bath houses. While rich classes increasingly utilized private baths in their own accommodations or even wealth wealthy public baths, the masses, particularly for public health reasons, needed access to baths. Governments in Europe and North America began to build public baths in major cities, with Liverpool and London being some of the earliest cities to sponsor major public baths. Also, contacts with Ottoman Turkey, which had inherited the concept of public baths from centuries before, influenced different cities in Europe, where many Turkish baths were builtand became popular. In the UK, public baths became law under the Baths and Wash-houses Act of 1846. This helped to spread the utilization of baths, once again, to the masses, who still generally lacked any piped water to their accommodations. The building of baths also included bathing pools. This then began the era of public swimming pools that often accommodated public baths.<ref>For more on modern baths that developed in the 19th century, see: Watson, S. (2006). <i>City publics: the (dis)enchantments of urban encounters</i>. London ; New York: Routledge, pg. 83.</ref>
For wealthier classes, baths were not seen of worth for the cleanliness they provided but treatment such as through steam treatment, 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 many regions. It was only after World War I that more typical homes began to have access to indoor plumbing. This began then the trend of bathing more regularly at home rather than in public baths. Soon, many people began to go less to frequent public bathsless often, while in other places baths became solely known for various sexual acts. Overall, major public baths once again faded in many parts of Europe and North Americaor receded into an association with prostitution. However, they public baths have never entirely disappeared. In Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, Japan, and Central other Asian cultures, public baths are still important as a 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 bathing facilities.<ref>For more on modern baths, including spas, see: Davis, G. (2009). <i>Bath as spa and Bath as slum: the social history of a Victorian city</i>. Lewiston, N.Y: Edwin Mellen Press. </ref>
==Summary==
