Sara Virostek

Professor Cian
Latin 1
4/24/17

Ancient Roman Inventions: Roads

the construction of one of the most sophisticated system of roads in the ancient times. Roman

roads and highways played a pivotal role in the rise of the Roman state, expanding across the

Roman Republic and then the Roman Empire. In a period of about 700 years, they built about

55,000 miles of paved highways around the Mediterranean basin and across Europe. Roads

ensured a fast and efficient movement of goods, soldiers, and information across the entire

Roman empire. Roman roads usually followed a straight route across the countryside, roads

made travel quite efficient. These expertly engineered routes were as easy to navigate. The

Romans were one of the first to use road signs and mile markers. They also made sure most

highways were well protected and patrolled.

When the Romans arrived in England, they found no roads to use. Instead they had to

make do with tracks used by the Britons. The tracks were in poor condition and usually situated

on high ground and weather caused damage to the roads. By having a good transportation

system, is was not only easier for trade, however it was also more efficient for emperors to send

messages and letters throughout their empires. Their roads were known for being straight, flat,

and well-made, however Romans did build their roads around natural obstacles such as

mountains rather than build through them or over them. Since the Romans did not have maps or
a compass, they used a tool called a groma. This was an instrument that had two pieces of wood

nailed together so that they formed a square cross with right-angles in all the corners. Each piece

of wood had lead weights attached to the ends. When one lead weight from the same piece of

wood lined up with the one in front of it, the surveyor knew that he had a straight line.

Roman roads were well used throughout the empire. However, many of those who used

them had to walk including merchants as chariots and horses were expensive. A wealthy

merchant could afford a wagon pulled by horses. The roads were built so that two of these

wagons could pass on both sides of the roads.

Ancient Roman Inventions: Arches

Even though the first use of this incredible architectural innovation predates even the

earliest years of Roman civilization, the arch truly became as essential structure in the general

architecture paradigm once the Romans made necessary changes in its construct to fit it within

their designing schemes. It was the Romans who first found out a way to set an arch on top of

two tall pedestals such that it would span over a walkway (and in many cases, even highways).

These arches went on to become a pivotal engineering construct that laid the foundation for

many of the subsequent structural highlights of ancient Rome. Many bridges were built upon

these arches, and so were the aqueducts, sewers, amphitheaters, and the colossal Colosseum.

The merits of Roman arches were utilized later in the middle ages when some of the most

magnificent cathedrals in the history were built. In fact, it was the only known method for

roofing a building without the use of support beams.

Roman arches enabled the ancient Romans to build aqueducts, bridges, sewers, temples,

amphitheaters and many more. The arch has never been a lost sight. Generations and
generations have and still use the arch in their architecture. It is applied extensively to doorways

and windows, and is an ornament as well as a utility.

Ancient Roman Inventions: Aqueducts

The water in the aqueducts ran gently through concrete channels. Multi-tiered viaducts

were developed by Roman engineers to cross low areas. Back in the times of the Roman Empire

and Republic, the Romans enjoyed quite a many facilities. Many of these would not have been

possible had they not mastered the technique of building aqueducts to tap water from rivers,

springs and other reservoirs. The first of Roman aqueducts were built around 312 BC and

thereon took off as an engineering marvel that used the of water into the city centers. The entire

aqueduct network relied on various factors and the use of gravity to maintain a continuous flow

whose overall engineering concept was far more remarkable for its time. Once the water would

reach the bigger cities like Rome, large reservoirs would hold it up. Then the connected public

baths, fountains, toilets and private villas would tap in the network and access the water. Being

one of the most visible symbols of the ancient water system, the aqueduct stands as a true

testament of ancient Roman engineering and innovation.