One of the earliest metals to be discovered, lead has a long history with mankind. It was first discovered around 7000 BC as a byproduct of silver smelting. Lead is metal known for its resistance against corrosion, malleability, and low melting point. Mined all across the world, lead was one of the most important metals in ancient times. Although lead was toxic, it was used widely, particularly in the Roman Empire. Through its uses and toxicity, lead affected the classical era in a drastic way. A major use of lead was in pipes part of the Roman plumbing system. In fact, the word plumbing comes from the Roman word for lead, plumbum. Lead was a great material for plumbing because it doesn’t corrode and it was widely available. The Roman plumbing
