1200-1750

__**Time** **frame: 1200 ~ 1750, Middle Ages & The Renaissance**__
 * Major themes:**
 * improvements in sanitations & public health; and
 * development & pollution issues.

__Sanitation and Health__ The plagues killed many people, but it also led to the enforcement of sanitation, public health and education. Soon, laws were also established to ensure good public health. Dumping and improper waste disposal were rendered illegal. With the effort to increase health standards, epidemics and diseases were reduced. To raise health awareness, mortality statistics were compiled. Even though these statistics were not accurate, this was the gateway to more health-improving steps. Sewer systems and drinking water supplies were developed. In about 1700, Paris became the first city in Europe to have built a large-scale sewer system. Into the 1700s, smallpox treatment was developed and children’s hospitals were established to reduce infant mortality, and also as an added effort to increase the health of the general public.

__Development and Pollution__ In as early as the twelfth century, smoke and dust from burning wood and coal have severely polluted the air. Sometimes the problem was so severe it caused people to leave the affected areas. Marco Polo found black rocks that can burn to produce heat. These rocks were already used in Britain, known as “sea coals” due to its importation over the seas. As the use of “sea coals” became widespread, rules were set to reduce pollution. However, these rules were oftentimes disregarded and broken due to high demands from the households, the factories, and the Navy. In the early 1600s, the dirty “sea coals” were being replaced by a cleaner mineral, anthracite. Though the anthracite burned with less soot, but due to the fact that the utilization was widespread the pollution was still problematic. The air pollution damaged the lungs of people and clouded visibility. It had been recorded that Britain produced about three million tonnes of coal annually. In addition to air pollution, deforestation became an increasingly severe issue. Due to rapid timbering, severe soil erosions occured.