Final answer:
Aqueducts were crucial for the development of public sanitation in ancient Rome, providing clean water for various purposes and enabling the establishment of sewer systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention that was crucial for the development of public sanitation in ancient Rome was aqueducts. Aqueducts were used to transport fresh water from distant sources to cities, providing a reliable and clean water supply for public baths, toilets, and fountains. One famous aqueduct in Rome was the Aqua Appia, built in 312 BC.
With the help of aqueducts, the Romans were able to establish a complex sewer system called the cloaca maxima which effectively carried away wastewater and prevented the spread of diseases.
Paved roads, bleach, and bridges, while important in their own right, did not have the same direct impact on public sanitation as aqueducts did.
Learn more about public sanitation in ancient Rome