Water Systems, Sanitation Modernization, and Social Modification: An Analysis of Sanitation Reforms in Mid-to-Late 19th Century Constantinople

<p dir="ltr">In the 19th century, Constantinople saw a series of reforms as a result of the Tanzimat, which sought to improve the Ottoman Empire overall. One of the main reforms laid out in the Tanzimat was the modernization of Constantinople's sanitation systems, which had previously sparked public worry over public health concerns, as the old sanitation systems carried the risk of spreading water-borne diseases. As the sanitation reforms continued, they contributed to the social stratification of 19th century Constantinople, creating a stark divide between the traditional and the modern, as well as the clean and unclean. These disparities were seen mainly between the European areas of Constantinople and the rest of the general population. </p>