Roman Public Roman Public HealthHealthMr McDonaldMr McDonald

What are we learning What are we learning today:today: Recall what the Romans did with Recall what the Romans did with

regards to Public Health.regards to Public Health. Why the Romans developed such a Why the Romans developed such a

system of Public Health.system of Public Health.

What I am Looking For:What I am Looking For: All to recall key characteristics of All to recall key characteristics of

Roman Public HealthRoman Public Health Most to explain why the Romans Most to explain why the Romans

pursued such a policy of Public Health.pursued such a policy of Public Health.

What have the Romans What have the Romans ever done for us?ever done for us?

Why did the Romans do Why did the Romans do it?it?

The Romans used a policy of public The Romans used a policy of public health for a number of reasons.health for a number of reasons.

The first was to reduce the risk of The first was to reduce the risk of disease in the built up towns of the disease in the built up towns of the Roman Empire and in doing so, reduce Roman Empire and in doing so, reduce the risk of rebellion.the risk of rebellion.

The second was to protect the Roman The second was to protect the Roman Army in areas it controlled. Soldiers Army in areas it controlled. Soldiers were told not to camp near marshes and were told not to camp near marshes and near to fresh water. near to fresh water.

Why did the Romans do Why did the Romans do it?it?

The final reason was to placate the The final reason was to placate the people the Romans controlled. people the Romans controlled. Tacitus said that the people under Tacitus said that the people under control of the Romans enjoyed the control of the Romans enjoyed the benefits of public health to stop benefits of public health to stop them realising they were under such them realising they were under such control.control.

Tacitus – 2Tacitus – 2ndnd century AD century AD

His purpose was to introduce them to a His purpose was to introduce them to a lifelifeof peace and quiet by the provision of of peace and quiet by the provision of facilities. And so the population was facilities. And so the population was gradually led into the demoralising gradually led into the demoralising temptations of arcades, baths and temptations of arcades, baths and sumptuous banquets. The unsuspecting sumptuous banquets. The unsuspecting Britons spoke of such novelties as Britons spoke of such novelties as civilisation, when in fact they were only civilisation, when in fact they were only a feature of their enslavement.a feature of their enslavement.

Why did the Romans invest Why did the Romans invest in Public Health?in Public Health?

To reduce disease in the Army

To reduce the risk of rebellion in Rome

To enslave conquered peoples

Exam QuestionExam Question

Every two years there is a question Every two years there is a question on Roman Public Health – on Roman Public Health – unfortunately it came last year but it unfortunately it came last year but it shows how to do the 4+4 question.shows how to do the 4+4 question.