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2000 BCE
When was the product invented?
The toilet's concept was originally designed all the way back in 2000 B.C.E when Indus Valley created a "grid-like" pattern on the floor, and dug ditches into them. Water would be used to wash the waste down the ditches away from the civilization. This waste traveled around the streets next to where people walked. This was a big problem that definitely needed to be stopped. http://www.localhistories.org/toilets.html -
Jan 1, 1200
Medieval Toilets
In the Middle Ages, around the 12th Century, the common toilets were just pits with a wooden seats over them. The pit would eventually fill waste and person, known as a gong farmer, would clean the pit. Buildings that were elevated, like castles, had holes in their walls so that the waste could fall down into a moat, or some grass. http://www.localhistories.org/toilets.html -
Jan 1, 1569
Who invented the Flushing Toilet?
The idea of a flushing lavatory system was invented by Sir John Harrington. This idea wasn't popular enough to be noticed at the time, so people stuck with their pits and pots. http://www.localhistories.org/toilets.html -
Materials for this product
Indus Valley toilets and 12th Century toilets definitely differ from the common toilet used today. Indus had bricks and stone that ran down the streets while 12th Century had wooden plates you'd sit on. There were some big improvements over the years where now we have a more comfortable design usually made of porcelain. http://www.importantindia.com/8962/drainage-system-of-harappan-civilization/ -
Thomas Crapper
Although Thomas didn't invent the flushing toilet himself, he definitely had a big part in making the toilet we have today. Thomas invented a valve that automatically fills the tank with water. This invention is used for every modern toilet, because it is such a helpful tool. http://www.famousinventors.org/thomas-crapper
