The origins of community health nursing can be traced back to ancient civilizations where care for the sick and injured was often the responsibility of family members and community healers. Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman societies had rudimentary public health systems, which included the establishment of public baths, sanitation systems, and the development of early medical knowledge by figures such as Hippocrates. However, it wasn't until the early Christian era that more organized forms of nursing care began to emerge, often associated with religious orders. Monastic communities provided shelter and care for the ill and needy, establishing some of the earliest hospitals.