Roman Technology

ROMAN TECHNOLOGY
MARK NICHOLS
HISTORY 103 WORLD CIVILIZATIONS
PROF. PETER TSAHLRIDIS
November 22, 2012

The ancient Romans were very innovative in their technology they were in some ways way ahead of their time. Caesar built a bridge to cross the Rhine; this river was 25-30 feet deep and 1000 feet across. The really special part of this is that he ordered it done and the project was completed in just ten days. That is nearly impossible even with the advances in technology that we have made since then. Through his ingenious leadership the local timber was transformed into a bridge that would hold 40,000 soldiers and was able to withstand the river`s strong currents.
The foundation was built using wooden pilings driven at angles deep into the river bed to give the bridge better stability. Then huge planks were laid across the top so that their chariots could be driven across. The design of this bridge was innovative but the most special part is the speed with which it was built. Engineering ideas were often borrowed from neighbors such as the “Etruscans”. The Etruscan`s knowledge was responsible for the underground sewer systems that allowed the water to drain from the roman streets into the Tiber river. This underground sewer system was known as the “Cloaca Maxima”. Pantheon: Roman engineering marvel Casseel,C.(writer and director) (2005)
Another piece of ingenious technology that struck my interest was the use of a tool called a “Groma”. This tool was a surveying instrument to build Roman highways. The Romans built a highway strait down the coast to allow better access to an ever growing empire. These Roman highways were a work of art in their own right. They started as deep trenches and then filled with gravel and huge boulders to build a solid foundation. Then compacted clay was placed over the foundation finally followed by huge paving stones.
The difference between Roman highways and today’s highways is that Roman highways were perfectly strait, because the Romans could not survey around corners they sometimes had to cut strait through mountains to build their roads. The “ Via Apia” was the first roman highway, it went straight down the coast and it was some 312 miles long. Pantheon Roman engineering marvel Casseel,C.(writer and director) (2005).
Last but certainly not least , the Romans engineered a way to provide running water throughout the capitol city. This was done using 11 aqueducts that brought fresh water from some thirty miles away. This allowed the Romans to live a much cleaner lifestyle. The emperor “ Claudius” was hugely responsible for the capitol city`s water supply. Having running water that was fresh and clean was a quantum leap for the Romans and put them head and shoulders above their counterparts.
The slope of the aqueducts had to be calculated over a distance of nearly thirty miles a feat that is pretty amazing even by today’s standards. These aqueducts were built on a gradient that lowered by several inches every 100 feet or so. Wealthy emperors and other wealthy citizens could pay to have clean water ran directly through their homes, a concept that was far ahead of its time. Rome`s superiority: Running water Casseel,C.(writer and director) (2005).
When you really think about it the Romans set the standard for civilized living as we know it today, they were so innovative that they managed to create a very luxurious lifestyle for themselves that was far more superior to any other nation at that time. They built roads and bridges that would rival even some of today`s creations. They managed to find a way to bring fresh clean spring water directly into their homes from some thirty miles away. In conclusion I would have to say that the Romans were a very innovative people and that they led the way for allot of the technology that we enjoy in today’s society. They were a very proud and sophisticated people as well. They enjoyed the finer things in life and it would seem that they knew very well how to obtain them.

Resources
1] Pantheon: ROMAN ENGENEERING MARVEL CASSEEL,C. (writer and director) (2005)
2] ROME`S SUPERIORITY: RUNNING WATER CASSEEL,C. (writer and director) (2005)