Fullo

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/fullo

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What was Fullo's job?Fullo (plural: fullones)
2. What is the industrial setting?Fullonica (plural: fullonicae)
3. What is the primary cleaning agents utilized?Fuller's earth (a type of clay) and ammonia (derived from urine)
4. What was a fullo in ancient Rome?A fullo was a laundry worker who cleaned and finished clothes in special Roman workshops called fullonicae.
5. How did fullo workers clean clothes?They used clay called fuller’s earth to soak up dirt, stomped on the fabric in big vats, and added urine to help break down stains and bleach the cloth.

Fullo: An ancient Roman artisan specializing in the cleaning, scouring, and finishing of textiles.
Fullonica: The workshop or industrial establishment where fullones conducted their textile processing activities.
Fuller's Earth: An absorbent clay used in antiquity for its degreasing and cleaning properties in textile treatment.
Ammonia: A chemical compound, notably present in urine, employed by fullones for its alkaline and stain-removing capabilities.