History Memes

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'Civilization' is a point of view, it would seem (lemmy.world)

submitted 6 months ago by PugJesus@lemmy.world to c/historymemes@lemmy.world

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[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

True, but “tossing your excrement out the window” has always been a no-no.

Sometimes frowned upon, but extremely common practice anyway. Without robust and accessible sewer systems, it's just what happens in urban environments.

[–] Nougat@fedia.io 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/12/did-people-in-the-middle-ages-throw-excrement-out-windows.html

Most certainly not in the 1800s.

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

https://slate.com/human-interest/2013/12/did-people-in-the-middle-ages-throw-excrement-out-windows.html

Woodcut from 1489.

Most certainly not in the 1800s.

There are regions without sewerage who still do that shit (ha) today. As late as the 1940s it was noted that some lower-class Londoners were in the habit of defecating in the corners of rooms.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 7 points 6 months ago

I don't think a single woodcut depicting it can really be generalized for a wider or comnon practises.