Flatulence. Gas. Breaking wind. It’s the one thing every single person on this planet does, yet we spend half our lives pretending it doesn’t exist. But if you look back at the history of farting, you’ll find that humans haven’t always been this shy. In fact, our ancestors were remarkably loud about it.
From the first recorded joke in human history to the medical theories of the Victorian era, flatulence has shaped social etiquette and even religious laws. It’s a biological necessity. It's also a universal punchline.
The World's Oldest Joke is a Fart Joke
Seriously.
Archaeologists and historians from the University of Wolverhampton discovered that the world's oldest recorded joke—dating back to 1900 BC—is about flatulence. It comes from the Sumerians, who lived in what is now southern Iraq. The proverb goes: "Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap."
It’s not exactly a knee-slapper by modern standards, but it proves a point. Humans have been laughing at gas for nearly 4,000 years. It shows that even in the cradle of civilization, people were navigating the awkward social dynamics of bodily functions.
Aristophanes, the Greek playwright, didn't shy away either. In his play The Clouds, he used flatulence as a metaphor for thunder, poking fun at the philosophical musings of Socrates. The Greeks were obsessed with the balance of the body. They saw gas as "pneuma," a kind of internal wind that needed to be managed. If you held it in, you were messing with your internal harmony.
Medieval Manners and the Great Release
During the Middle Ages, the history of farting took a weirdly professional turn. Have you ever heard of Roland the Farter? This isn't a legend; it's a matter of historical record.
Roland was a "jongleur" for King Henry II of England. His job was unique. Every Christmas, at the court’s holiday pageant, he was required to perform a specific feat: Unum saltum et siffletum et unum bumbulum. That translates to one jump, one whistle, and one fart. For this service, the King gave him a manor house and over 100 acres of land in Suffolk.
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Imagine that for a second. A man became a wealthy landowner because he could time his gas perfectly for the monarchy.
But it wasn’t all fun and games. In religious circles, gas was often linked to the demonic. Some medieval texts suggested that the smell of sulfur was a direct link to hell. St. Augustine, however, took a more analytical approach. In The City of God, he noted that some people had such command over their bodies that they could produce "musical sounds" from their rear at will, without any accompanying smell. He found this fascinating rather than sinful.
Why the Victorian Era Changed Everything
Things got quiet. Very quiet.
The history of farting shifted dramatically during the 18th and 19th centuries. As the middle class grew, "polite society" became obsessed with distancing itself from the "crude" functions of the body. This is where the intense shame we feel today really took root.
Social manuals of the time were brutal. If you accidentally let one slip in a drawing-room, you might as well move to another country. This repression led to some pretty wild medical theories. Doctors in the 1800s often warned that "retaining the vapors" could lead to hysteria, headaches, or even the displacement of internal organs. They weren't entirely wrong about the discomfort, but their solutions—which sometimes involved smelling salts or complicated corsets—often made things worse.
The Science of the Smell
Why does it actually happen? It’s basically a mix of swallowed air and the breakdown of food by bacteria in your large intestine. Most of it is odorless nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.
The real culprit for the "rotten egg" smell is hydrogen sulfide. Only about 1% of gas contains these sulfur compounds, but our noses are incredibly sensitive to them. Evolutionarily, this might have been a way to avoid feces or rotting matter, which carry pathogens. We are hard-coded to find the smell offensive to keep us safe.
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Ben Franklin’s "Fart Proudly" Essay
One of the most famous documents in the history of farting was written by none other than Benjamin Franklin. While serving as the American ambassador to France in 1781, he became annoyed by the "frivolous" nature of European scientific debates.
In response, he wrote an essay titled To the Royal Academy of Farting (commonly known as Fart Proudly).
He argued—mostly satirically—that scientists should spend their time developing a drug that would make human flatulence smell as pleasant as perfume. He wrote: "A few Stems of Asparagus eaten, shall give our Urine a disagreeable Odour; and a Pill of Turpentine no bigger than a Pea, shall bestow on it the pleasing Smell of Violets."
Franklin’s point was that science should be practical and improve the daily lives of people. Also, he just liked a good joke. He never actually submitted it to the Academy, but he sent copies to his friends. It remains one of the most brilliant pieces of bathroom humor ever written by a world leader.
Flatulence in Modern Health
Today, we view the history of farting through a more clinical lens. Nutritionists and gastroenterologists like Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (author of Fiber Fueled) argue that gas is actually a sign of a healthy microbiome.
If you aren't farting, you probably aren't eating enough fiber.
Legumes, broccoli, and whole grains are the primary drivers of gas because they contain complex carbohydrates that our bodies can't digest on their own. Our gut bacteria do the work for us, and gas is the byproduct. In a way, a "noisy" gut is a hard-working gut.
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However, there’s a limit. Excessive gas or extreme pain can point to issues like:
- Lactose Intolerance: A lack of the enzyme needed to break down milk sugars.
- SIBO: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth.
- Celiac Disease: An immune reaction to eating gluten.
- FODMAP sensitivity: Problems digesting certain short-chain carbohydrates.
The conversation has moved from "don't do it" to "what is it telling you?" This shift marks a return to the more pragmatic views held by the ancient Greeks, albeit with much better data.
Culturally Speaking, It’s Complicated
Not every culture views gas with the same level of horror. In some Inuit cultures, farting after a meal is reportedly a way to express appreciation for the food. It’s a literal "thank you" to the host.
Conversely, in some parts of the world, it remains a total social death sentence. There is an old story from 14th-century Yemen about a man who farted so loudly during a wedding that he fled the city in shame and lived in exile for ten years. When he finally returned, he overheard a young person asking their mother when they were born. The mother replied, "You were born on the night of the Great Fart." The man turned around and left forever.
It’s a reminder that while the biology is the same everywhere, the social cost varies wildly.
Actionable Advice for Managing Your Digestive Health
If you’re looking to balance your gut health without becoming a social pariah, there are a few things you can actually do. The history of farting teaches us that while we can't stop it, we can manage it.
- Slow Down: Most gas is actually swallowed air (aerophagia). Eating too fast, chewing gum, or drinking through a straw increases the amount of air you gulp down.
- The Soak Method: If you’re cooking beans, soak them overnight and discard the water. This removes some of the oligosaccharides that cause the most trouble.
- Probiotics: Introducing specific strains like Bifidobacterium can help some people, though it’s not a one-size-fits-all fix.
- Track Your Triggers: Keep a simple food diary for three days. You might find that it's not the beans at all, but the "sugar-free" sweeteners in your coffee (like sorbitol or xylitol) that are the real culprits.
- Movement: A simple 10-minute walk after a meal helps move gas through the digestive tract more efficiently, preventing the painful buildup known as "trapped wind."
Understanding the history of farting helps take the sting out of the embarrassment. It is a biological constant that has survived every empire, every fashion trend, and every social revolution. We’ve been laughing, cringing, and over-analyzing our gas since we first learned to write. It's just part of being human.
Next Steps for Gut Health:
Start by eliminating carbonated drinks for 48 hours to see if your baseline "gasiness" drops. If you experience persistent pain along with bloating, consult a gastroenterologist to rule out food intolerances or malabsorption issues. Proper digestion is the foundation of overall wellness.