architecture and engineering of the roman empire
The main Roman additions to architecture were the arch, vault and the dome and some of these Roman structures still stand today after two thousand years. What made these buildings so durable was the sophisticated methods of making cement and concrete. Roman roads are seen as the most advanced system of infrastructure up until the nineteenth century and this system facilitated military policing, communications and trade. The roads were resistant to floods and other environmental hazards and even after the collapse of the central government, some roads remained usable for more than a thousand of years. Roman bridges were among the first large and lasting bridges which were made of stone and had the arch as the basic architecture. The largest Roman bridge was Trajan's Bridge which was built by Apollodorus of Damascus on the lower Danube and this bridge was the longest bridge in the world for over a millennia.
Many dams and reservoirs were also built by the Romans and two of these fed the Anio Novus, one of the largest aqueducts of Rome. Only on the Iberian peninsula, seventy two dams were constructed and many more dams are known across Europe. Many of these dams are still in use today. Several earthen dams from Roman Britain are known and a very good example would be from Longovicium (Lanchester). After the water passed through the aqueduct, it was collected in tanks and fed through pipes to public fountains, baths, toilets, or industrial sites. Rome's main aqueducts were the Aqua Claudia and Aqua Marcia. Roman aqueducts were built to a technological standard that was not to be equaled until modern times.
Another development was the insulated glazing or double glazing for windows was used for the Roman public baths. Elite housing in cooler weather had hypocausts which were a type of underfloor heating system in wealthy houses and public baths.
Many dams and reservoirs were also built by the Romans and two of these fed the Anio Novus, one of the largest aqueducts of Rome. Only on the Iberian peninsula, seventy two dams were constructed and many more dams are known across Europe. Many of these dams are still in use today. Several earthen dams from Roman Britain are known and a very good example would be from Longovicium (Lanchester). After the water passed through the aqueduct, it was collected in tanks and fed through pipes to public fountains, baths, toilets, or industrial sites. Rome's main aqueducts were the Aqua Claudia and Aqua Marcia. Roman aqueducts were built to a technological standard that was not to be equaled until modern times.
Another development was the insulated glazing or double glazing for windows was used for the Roman public baths. Elite housing in cooler weather had hypocausts which were a type of underfloor heating system in wealthy houses and public baths.