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Okay, asyoulookatthisnextexhibit, you'llnoticesomethingquitecommonanordinarybarofsoap.
Now, soaphasbeenaroundalongtimeinfact, theancientPhoeniciansproducedsoapasasubstanceforwashingthebodywaybackin 600 B.C.
Theymadeitbyblendinggoat'sfatwithwoodash.
ThePhoenicians, asyoumayknow, regularlytradedalongtheMediterranean, andtheyweretheoneswhointroducedsoaptotheGreeksandRomans.
Now, soapwasnotsomethingwelcomedbyallcountries.
Infact, duringthesuperstitiousMiddleAges, manypeoplewereafraidtobathetheirwholebodytoofrequently.
Theythoughtitcouldbedangerousfortheirhealththatitcouldevenkillthem.
AndevenaftertheproductionofsoapbecamecommoninsomeEuropeancountriesintheeleventhandtwelfthcenturieseventhensomepeopleinthehearofEuroperefusedtouseit.
You'llfinditinterestingthatwhenaduchesswasgivenaboxofsoapasapresentin 1549 shewassoinsultedthatshehadthegiftgiverthrownoffherestate!
Butbythenineteenthcenturytheattitudetowardsoaphadchangeddrastically.
InsomeregionsofEuropethetaxonsoapwassohighthatpeoplesecretlymadetheirown.Abaronwentsofarastosuggestthatthewealthofanationcouldbejudgedaccordingtotheamountofsoapitused.
Now, ifyouturnyourattentiontothenextexhibit, youcanseehowsoapismanufacturedtoday.