![]() While some cultures consider body odor offensive, many find it acceptable and even sexy. But the Union convinced citizens that good hygiene helped control disease.Īshenburg looks across cultures at what constitutes a clean body. Americans, Ashenburg writes, were just as grimy as Europeans until the Civil War. ![]() ![]() In her new book, The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History, Katherine Ashenburg looks at the fascinating history of cleanliness - or the lack thereof - and how humans' obsession with hygiene has led to today's over sanitized world. That belief would hold firm in Europe for the next 200 years. It was only in the 14th century - after the Black Death killed at least 25 million people - that the French determined that hot baths left people susceptible to illness. Public bathhouses were very popular and the wealthy had private baths. ![]() Medieval Europeans weren't as smelly and sweaty as the modern-day world perceives them to be. The Clean Shopper prevents babies from touching germ-laden supermarket carts. A slew of products helps people steer clear of germs. ![]()
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