Roman Technology and Engineering
The Roman Empire was famous for its pioneering achievements in the technological and engineering advancements. Roman engineering and technology was an important constituent to the development of the Empire and produced extraordinary structures and designs present in the world today. Roman cities were considered the most beautiful in the western world because of their decorated buildings made from concrete, stones, bricks and marble. The water system was one of Rome’s greatest engineering achievements. This achievement was necessary to provide water to the Roman cities. This enormous and exceedingly advanced water system was known as the Aqueducts. Eleven aqueducts transported more than 200 million gallons of water in and out of Rome covering an estimated sixty miles (Oleson, 2008). This water was used for irrigation and domestic use by inhabitants of Roman cities. The sewage system constructed during this time still exists today.
Aqueducts are today considered the most noticeable and celebrated ancient water system. They were constructed from brick stone and cement. This underground system provided clean water into Rome and carried waste out of the city. Rome depended on the aqueducts in order to maintain the flow of water. Roman art and literature also contributed to its development. The official language was Latin and was used by the Roman military and the government (Maynard, 2006). Other languages such as French, Italian and Portuguese were derived from Latin. Romans developed the alphabets and numerals that are used in all European languages. This demonstrates the importance of education to Romans hence the reason behind Roman scholars. Education was considered one of the most imperative aspects of growth in Rome thus children would be introduced to specialized education systems.
A huge engineering and technology achievement was their expansive road system. This was established because the Roman Empire was vast, therefore, enhancing transportation efficiency to the cities and nearby provinces. The Romans constructed their first national highway in 312 B.C stretching 132 miles. More than 250,000 miles of roads were constructed during the lifetime of the Roman Empire. These roads were used to transport goods in and out of Rome and for communication. Good road systems made it easy for the emperor to control the empire as messages and orders could be sent hastily. Military legions also used the roads to move from one province to another. This increased power and control of the Roman Empire. Movement was improved and this contributed to overpopulation in some of Rome’s largest cities.
In addition to the intricate road system, development in Roman engineering saw the construction of bridges. Romans decided to build bridges to overcome the burdens of their varied terrain. The military used the bridges to match faster and efficiently. Moreover, imperial couriers used them to ferry information from one part of the empire to another. These bridges improved trade between the Roman Empire and the rest of the world as transportation of goods and services was boosted. The city experienced more travelers and vacationers from other parts of the world thanks to the bridges. During the reign of Julius Caesar, he ordered the construction of a bridge across the Rhine River. This bridge was constructed in ten days and destroyed after he had crossed to explore the new Germanic lands. Life became easy for inhabitants of Roman cities because transportation and movement was no longer cumbersome.
“By the first century AD, Rome had become the biggest and most advanced city in the world” (Gedacht, 2004, 1). Rome is famous for its unparalleled architectural structures such as the Coliseum and the Pantheon. Roman architects and designers defied the beliefs of many western countries and developed structures that continue to astound people today. Their structures demonstrated immense creativity and passion for development. The Coliseum could hold more than 50,000 people during events while the Pantheon attracted many worshippers to Rome. Romans lived in large houses with gardens and lavish apartments made of stone and concrete. The large apartment buildings were referred to as “insulae” and they were made strong with cement and volcanic soil from Pozzuoli. Life in Rome became expensive because of the continued technological and engineering developments.
The vast technological developments in ancient Rome saw the invention of machines such as the screw press and cranes. A screw press was used to press olives while cranes were used during construction and at the port. With the unrelenting road and bridge construction in Rome, they needed cranes to make their work easier. Cranes were considered stronger and more efficient than work force since they could carry more than 7 tons of equipment and cargo. Consequently, building roads, bridges, arches and the aqueducts became easier hence boosting Rome’s position as the best among western countries. These improvements enhanced the conquering ability of Roman emperors as they could send their military to other parts of the world quickly and effectively. Glassblowing was started in Rome and spread to neighboring regions. This practice provided employment opportunities to those who learnt it and boosted the Roman economy in terms of trade.
Reference
Gedacht, D. C. (2004). Technology of ancient Rome. New York: PowerKids Press. Print.
I used this book to demonstrate the growth of the Roman Empire through engineering technological advancements in its structures and buildings.
Maynard, C. W. (2006). The technology of ancient Rome. New York: Rosen Central Pub. Print.
I used this source to illustrate Roman advancements in art, literature, education, and their effects today.
Oleson, J. P. (2008). Oxford handbook of engineering and technology in the Classical world. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Print.
This book gives information about the development of the Roman water system, how it was used, and its presence today.
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