Technology

//__**Roman Technology

A written masterpiece by Noelle Honeycutt**__// The Romans were exceptional engineers and innovators. Their interesting and unique inventions were keystone achievements that influence modern discoveries. Aqueducts and roads are among the greatest fundamental inventions of Roman times. They allowed for simplified and more efficient lives. Their representation of the Roman legacy is unprecedented. Aqueducts were important in the Roman world. They brought in a necessary and const ant water supply needed for the baths and plumbing of the big cities. Something wells, such as those used in the small cities, were not able to achieve. (Moulton, 43) These channels were built after the Greeks water system. The Romans improved it by first recreating and improving the Greek tunnel. (Bunson, 22) The expression aqueduct is a combination of two basic Latin words. //Aqua// means water and //ducere// is the verb to lead. When combined this water transport system leads water to the city resulting in full cisterns (tanks) and ample water for public and private baths. (Bunson, 22; Moulton, 42) Aqueducts did not only use water and tunnels. When the Romans improved the Greek system they added arches, pipes, and tanks. (Moulton, 42) Although the Romans didn’t create the arch, they ga  ve it new meaning and ability. These arch-supported tunnels traveled throughout the Roman Empire, including provinces in Italy, North Africa, Greece, Asia Minor, Spain, and France. (Moulton, 43) These masterpieces can still be found throughout such provinces in Nimes, France and Segovia, Spain. Another great invention of the Romans were roads. Dirt routes and paths were their direction and map system because maps had not yet been created. (Hart-Davis) The development of roads stemmed from this idea but was unique for two reasons; they were completely straight and they were paved. (Hart-Davis) Their need for quicker transportation is absolute but their roads original purpose is widely disputed. The Roman roads are thought to originally transport troops quicker but some argue it was for faster, more effective trading. (Hart-Davis; Williams, 63) Whatever their original purpose these roads aided its travelers by providing faster and easier transportation. These roads laid the foundation for our modern road system but were double the thickness for less pressure and use. Some like the Via Appia are still in use today. Romans built their roads 16 to 20 feet wide, but main highways could be up to 33 feet wide. Their 3 foot thickness consisted of stone slabs and rubble. This rubble was a combination of crushed stone and sand. (Williams, 63) These two inventions were and are the basis for great innovations and left legendary accomplishments in the Romans’ name. Bunson, Matthew. "Aqueducts."__Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire__. 1. 1994 Hart-Davis, Adam. "Discovering Roman Technol ogy: Roads and Surveys." __bbc.com__. 01 June 2001. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2 Dec 2008 http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/tech_02.shtml >. Purdue, "Picture From All Over, Miscellany, Roman Aqueduct." July 26 2002. Purdue University. 4 Dec 2008 <[|http://web.ics.purdue.edu/~mthoreso/photo_gallery/Miscellany/slides/Roman%20Aqueduct.html]>. Sacred Destinations, "Appain Way (Via Appia) Appain Way, Rome." __Sacred Destinations__. 2005. Sacred Destinations. 2 Dec 2008 . Williams, Trevor. __A History of Invention: from stone axes to silicon chips__. 2. New York: Checkmark Books, 2000.