Editing Soap (section)

===Medieval Europe===
Soapmakers in [[Naples]] were members of a [[guild]] in the late sixth century (then under the control of the [[Eastern Roman Empire]]),<ref>footnote 48, p. 104, ''Understanding the Middle Ages: the transformation of ideas and attitudes in the Medieval world'', Harald Kleinschmidt, illustrated, revised, reprint edition, Boydell & Brewer, 2000, {{ISBN|0-85115-770-X}}.</ref> and in the eighth century, soap-making was well known in Italy and Spain.<ref name="Related Lime Soap Dispersants 1996, p. 632">Anionic and Related Lime Soap Dispersants, Raymond G. Bistline Jr., in ''Anionic Surfactants: Organic Chemistry'', Helmut Stache, ed., Volume 56 of Surfactant science series, CRC Press, 1996, chapter 11, p. 632, {{ISBN|0-8247-9394-3}}.</ref> The [[Carolingian]] [[capitulary]] ''De Villis'', dating to around 800, representing the royal will of [[Charlemagne]], mentions soap as being one of the products the stewards of royal estates are to tally. The lands of [[Medieval Spain]] were a leading soapmaker by 800, and soapmaking began in the [[Kingdom of England]] about 1200.<ref>[http://www.soap-flakes.com/history.html www.soap-flakes.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526035507/http://www.soap-flakes.com/history.html|date=2015-05-26}}. soap-flakes.com. Retrieved on 2015-10-31.</ref> Soapmaking is mentioned both as "women's work" and as the produce of "good workmen" alongside other necessities, such as the produce of carpenters, blacksmiths, and bakers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Robinson |first=James Harvey |url=http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/carol-devillis.html |title=Readings in European History: Vol. I |publisher=Ginn and co |year=1904 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925094733/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/carol-devillis.html |archive-date=2009-09-25 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In Europe, soap in the 9th century was produced from animal fats and had an unpleasant smell. This changed when olive oil began to be used in soap formulas instead, after which much of Europe's soap production moved to the Mediterranean olive-growing regions.<ref name="Springer">{{cite book |title=A History of Technology, Volume 2 |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=1954 |isbn=9780198581062 |editor=Charles Springer |pages=355–356}}</ref> Hard toilet soap was introduced to Europe by Arabs and gradually spread as a luxury item. It was often perfumed.<ref name="hassan" /><ref name="Springer" />

By the 15th century, the manufacture of soap in [[Christendom]] often took place on an industrial scale, with sources in [[Antwerp]], [[Castile (historical region)|Castile]], [[Marseille]], [[Naples]] and [[Venice]].<ref name="Related Lime Soap Dispersants 1996, p. 632" />