This is my counterargument whenever people claim that the dark ages were a myth. Military technology continued advancing at a steady pace, but civilian (or rather peasant) technology in general was subpar until the early Renaissance. Sanitation was inferior well into the early industrial revolution.
That's before you account for all the medieval peasants that literally shit in their own water supply.
Before major sanitation projects, as population grew, the Thames flowing through London would turn into a near-solid garbage sludge when water levels were low.
Considering how dangerous dysentery was before modern sanitation, sucking another animal's tit was the lesser evil. The goat acts as a natural filter.
That's before you account for all the medieval peasants that literally shit in their own water supply.
Kinda sad that knowledge was not picked up from the Romans as they knew the value of clean water and sanitation.
This is my counterargument whenever people claim that the dark ages were a myth. Military technology continued advancing at a steady pace, but civilian (or rather peasant) technology in general was subpar until the early Renaissance. Sanitation was inferior well into the early industrial revolution.
Even the nobles weren't that better off with their moats of literal piss and shit.
Well, except for their Plumbum.
Before major sanitation projects, as population grew, the Thames flowing through London would turn into a near-solid garbage sludge when water levels were low.
London is as ever a massive shit hole, however.
"Create a little dysentery among the ranks!"
-Sun Ta-zoo, the Chinese Prince Matchabelli