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A brief history of toilets - Francis de los Reyes

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TEDEd Animation

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On sunny days, citizens of ancient Rome could be found exchanging news and gossip while attending to more urgent business at the public latrines. Today, most cultures consider trips to the restroom to be a more private occasion. But even when going alone, our shared sewage infrastructure is one of the most pivotal inventions in human history. Francis de los Reyes shares the history of the toilet.

The earliest evidence of use of sewer pipes and water to move human wastes was in Ancient Mesopotamia in the year _____?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Francis de los Reyes
  • Director Igor Coric
  • Narrator Jack Cutmore-Scott
  • Storyboard Artist Igor Coric
  • Animator Igor Coric
  • Compositor Igor Coric
  • Art Director Igor Coric
  • Music Nikola Radivojevic
  • Sound Designer Nikola Radivojevic
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Production Coordinator Abdallah Ewis
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Fact-Checker Jennifer Nam

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