Did lead pipescause the fall of the Roman Empire? How many toilets were in theaverage Egyptian pyramid? How did a knight wearing fiftypounds of armor go to the bathroom?Was poor hygiene the last strawbefore the French Revolution?Did Thomas Crapper really inventthe modern toilet?How do astronauts goin space?History finally comes out of the water-closet inthis exploration of how people's need to relieve themselves shaped humandevelopment from ancient times to the present. Throughout time, the mostsuccessful civilizations were the ones who realized that everyone poops, and theyhad better figure out how to get rid of it! From the world's first flushing toiletinvented by ancient Minoan plumbers to castle moats in the middle ages thatused more than just water to repel enemies, Sarah Albee traces humancivilization using one revolting yet fascinating theme.
