The Romans and Engineering

The Romans and Engineering

The Romans were often in the shadow of many things compared to the ancient Greeks - poetry, science, literature, numerals, geometry etc. However their architecture and engineering were stand alone qualities to put them in the spotlight among ancient civilization.

Rome invested a lot of effort into its engineering, and this led to the amazing inventions we have today such as roads, baths, theatres and Hadrian’s wall. Engineering was used to improve the Romans lifestyle, including everyday issues like a frequent water supply.

The Romans borrowed ideas from the Greeks to assist with their own engineering plans. Rome was supplied with water by using a system of 640 kilometers of aqueducts. Its long survival rate and good condition shows the impressive skills of the Romans. The amount of Roman roads over western Europe is another example of their excellent engineering.

The famous Roman baths are both reflective of the efficient building skills and the Romans use of natural resources for their own benefit. Other creations which still exist today include lighthouses, temples, palaces etc. The famous Hadrian’s wall is in total, 117 kilometers in length, six meters in height and three meters thickness. The wall was built to withstand all weathers and temperatures and held up to 1,000 men along with toilets, washrooms and forts.

The Romans completed their buildings by using tools that had existed for years before - levers and pulleys were used to move large building blocks, powered by slaves.

Building achievements in ancient Rome included domes, siege warfare, concrete, roads, sewers, heated floors, the aqueduct (underground pipes, water lines and bridges) water power (wheels) segmental arch and pontoon bridges.

See also:

Roman Roads

Roman Baths

Hadrian's Wall

MLA Citation/Reference

"The Romans and Engineering". HistoryLearning.com. 2024. Web.