... lived near swamps got ill and sometimes died. This was due to the mosquitoes which most likely carried malaria. The swamps were drained as a result and fewer people became sick. A good reason why the Romans advanced so quickly in public health was because they realised the importance of clean water. Knowing this, they engineered aqueducts, lead piping and sewers. The aqueducts provided the population with clean water, piping brought the water into the cities and the sewers took the waste out. The Roman government also provided many hospitals, public baths, fountains and lavatories to encourage cleanliness. The baths were a social occasion and at the same time kept people clean. There were fountains in main cities where people could have clean and fresh drinking water. Furthermore, the Romans were the first to build public toilets made to accommodate many people. Although these facilities were very important to stay ...

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