Start Date
5-19-2021 2:45 PM
End Date
5-19-2021 4:00 PM
Disciplines
History
Subjects
Bathing customs -- History, Water-use -- Social aspects, Hygiene -- Social aspects -- History
Abstract
This essay discusses how bathing practices worldwide have evolved throughout history through cultural interaction. While there is much literature on how bathing practices in specific regions have changed over time, few take a global perspective and track where bathing rituals originate and how they spread. Using bathing as a unit of analysis can reveal interactions and influences between cultures. The essay is divided into three periods in which bathing practices are analyzed: ancient, medieval, and modern. In the ancient period, the spread of Hindu and Buddhist bathing practices is discussed, as well as how Greek bathing practices went on to influence Roman bathing in Europe. The Medieval section discusses private vs public bathing in Europe and North Africa, how the spread of Buddhism to Japan affected bathing rituals, and the rise of Islamic bathing rituals, influenced by earlier Roman practices. The modern section discusses how Spanish Conquistadors impacted Central American bathing habits, the application of public bathing in modern Britain, as well as developments in health science and education.
Rights
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Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/35802
Included in
Session 2: Panel 2: Presenter 2 (Paper) -- The History of Bathing: a Cross-Cultural Tradition
This essay discusses how bathing practices worldwide have evolved throughout history through cultural interaction. While there is much literature on how bathing practices in specific regions have changed over time, few take a global perspective and track where bathing rituals originate and how they spread. Using bathing as a unit of analysis can reveal interactions and influences between cultures. The essay is divided into three periods in which bathing practices are analyzed: ancient, medieval, and modern. In the ancient period, the spread of Hindu and Buddhist bathing practices is discussed, as well as how Greek bathing practices went on to influence Roman bathing in Europe. The Medieval section discusses private vs public bathing in Europe and North Africa, how the spread of Buddhism to Japan affected bathing rituals, and the rise of Islamic bathing rituals, influenced by earlier Roman practices. The modern section discusses how Spanish Conquistadors impacted Central American bathing habits, the application of public bathing in modern Britain, as well as developments in health science and education.