How SOAP came into existence. History of creation
Chapters:
0:00 The history of the appearance of the first soap
0:52 Sumerian (Babylonian) soap
1:07 Roman soap
2:25 Soap and Hygiene in Medieval Europe
3:24 Modern soap
Have you ever wondered how to wash things in the old days?
Some previously used methods question the very purpose of such procedures, for example, cleansing with river sand, milk, ash, swollen bran, and even more “extreme” ones - bovine bile, egg yolks, fresh droppings, etc. In addition, in many countries, roots, bark or fruits of plants were used for washing, which naturally have “soapy” properties - for example, Soapy and White walnut bark. Each of the predecessors of modern soap fulfilled its narrow function: it cleared away dirt, but was far from universal and was almost not suitable for washing the human body.
Surprisingly, one of the Sumerian clay tablets, dated 2500 BC, described the process of making soap. A mixture of wood ash and water was boiled, then fat was melted in it, obtaining a soap solution.
However, for a long time, the invention of soap was attributed to the Romans.
In Rome, soap making became widespread and stood out as a separate craft industry. So during the excavations of Pompeii, archaeologists excavated a soap factory, where ready-made bars of soap were found. There is a version that the very word soap (soap) comes from the name of Mount Sapo in ancient Rome, where sacrifices were made to the gods. Confirmation of this fact can be found in the treatise of the Roman writer and scholar Pliny the Elder "Natural History".
After the fall of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the so-called dark time in Europe, cleanliness and personal hygiene faded into the background, so the production of soap began to decline, but the recipes were not lost and small artisan workshops continued the work of the ancient masters.
In medieval Europe, washing was unpopular - such a misfortune happened to a European about once a year. The rest of the time it was enough to swim. It was in the Middle Ages in Europe that perfumes were invented - just to combat an unpleasant odor.
The process of washing was also not encouraged by the church, but, on the contrary, was condemned. It was believed that, having washed, a person washes off the grace that he received during baptism. Baptism was supposed to wash the Christian once and for all - literally and figuratively.
Fashion for purity was brought to Europe by the knights-crusaders, who during the crusades visited the Arab countries. In 1424, the first bar of solid soap was brewed in Italy. Until now, Italian solid soap is considered one of the best in the world. Then soap was considered a luxury item - it was used only by representatives of the clergy and nobility.
And only in 1790 the French chemist Nicolas Leblanc obtained a new substance from table salt - soda, which became widely used everywhere as a cheaper substitute for ash.
And in 1808 the soap got its modern composition. It was developed by the French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul.
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How soap came about. History of creation
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