Answer:
The lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices in Roman cities contributed to the spread of disease.
Roman cities were densely populated, with large numbers of people living in close quarters. This made it easy for diseases to spread from person to person. In addition, the Romans did not have a sophisticated understanding of the causes of disease, and their sanitation and hygiene practices were often inadequate.
Many Roman cities lacked proper sanitation systems, and waste was often dumped into the streets or into nearby bodies of water. This created unsanitary conditions that were ideal for the breeding of disease-carrying insects and rodents. In addition, many Romans did not practice good hygiene, and public baths were often overcrowded and unsanitary, providing a breeding ground for disease.
As a result of these factors, diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis were common in Roman cities. The spread of these diseases was exacerbated by the lack of effective treatments and the limited understanding of how to prevent their transmission. Overall, the lack of sanitation and poor hygiene practices in Roman cities contributed to the spread of disease and had a significant impact on public health.