Roman+Technology

= = =Overview= Though the Ancient Romans borrowed much of their technology from the Greeks, they made many contributions of their own.These include extensive aqueducts, brass, and glass-blowing.

=Aqueducts= Though the Romans were not the first to invent the aqueducts, they succeded in first applying hydraulics to build aqueducts that spanned up to 60 miles. Roman aqueducts could supply 1.1 million cubic meters of water a day which amounts to about 200 gallons per person. According to Sextus Julius Frontus, Rome's water commisioner at the time, the Appian aqueduct was 11,190 paces (1 pace=about 5 feet) and in some areas of the New Anio aqueduct, the arches could be as tall as 109 feet.

The success of the Roman aqueducts stems from the failure of the Cloaca Maxima, Rome's first sewer. All waste was dumped into the Tiber River, which wasn't very clean to begin with. After the Second Samnite war, the need for clean, readily available water was apparent.

The first aqueduct was a simple underground channel. As time went on, 11 aqueducts were constructed, accomodating the production of public baths and 20-person latrines. Arenas were even filled to create mock naval battles to rival gladiatorial contests.Many surveyors scouted to locate clear and suitable souces of water which would be used for the empire. Vivitrius suggested that could probe for mist by laying onthe ground or placing a bowl in a small hole to see if it collected moisture. He also said that the clearest waters would be in area where the people had the clearest complexions.

=Concrete= Roman concrete was among the best of cements. It consisted of pozzolana (volcanic earth), lime (the cementing agent) and fragments of various rocks and bricks. The lime was often obtained by crushing seashells or from gypsum. This combination could even set underwater. The concrete was made by layering dry pozzolana and wet lime over rock fragments. The strength of the concrete depended on the amount of water to the amount of lime; the higher the lime to water ratio, the stronger the concrete.

A very practical substance, Roman concrete had only one disadvantage; it was aesthetically unappealing. Many methods, such as bricks, squared stone, or volcanic tufa were employed to improve the appearance of this cheap, strong, yet ugly material.

Without concrete, the Romans' famous arches and domes would not be possible.

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Here is a link to the Greek Technology page.

Citations: Davidson, Frank P., and Kathleen Lusk Brooke. "Roman Aqueducts: Need To Know." //World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras//.ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. Langmead, Donald, and Christine Garnaut. "Roman concrete." //World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras//.ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 1 Feb. 2012.