Izzy Muschweck

Professor Cian
Latin 1
7 May 2018

Ancient Roman Inventions

The ancient world was full of such possibilities since there was so much to invent and

discover. Ancient Rome is undoubtedly one of the more prominent names that is extensively

known, for making inventions that changed the course of human nature and development. The

ancient Roman inventions gave shape to the Roman civilization as we know it today. In many

cases, the Roman inventions were more accurately innovations they had a knack to bring

necessary changes in already existing technology. The top 10 inventions in all Ancient roman

history were arches, grid-based cities, sewers and sanitation, roads and highways, aqueducts,

roman numerals, surgery tools and techniques, the Juliann calendar, newspaper, and concrete.

The first top invention in ancient roman history was arches. Arches were essential structure in

general architecture in ancient history. Romans first discovered a way to set an arch on top of

two large concrete pedestals which would create a covering for a walkway. The arches went on

to become the foundation of many subsequent structures in Rome. Bridges were also built using

these arches, as were aqueducts, sewers, amphitheaters and the Colosseum. The Romans learned

the arch from the Etruscans of Tuscany and were the first people in the world to really figure out

how to use it. Romans in the first centuries BC discovered how to use arches in the construction

of bridges, aqueducts and buildings. The Roman arch is largely responsible for the expansion of

infrastructure across the Roman Empire. You may know about Rome's famous roads and

aqueducts that crisscrossed from Britain to the Middle East. Without the arch, these

constructions would probably not have been possible. The Roman arch became a foundational

aspect of Western architecture and generated new systems of building across Europe.
 Another ancient roman invention important to history were sewers and sanitation. The

Roman empire boasted the highest level of sewage and sanitary management in the

contemporary ages. They established a number of public baths, latrines and an interlinked

sewage line binding them together. The abundance of water in the Roman aqueducts along with

runoff water from local streams was used to flush the drains and sewers. The flush would then

dispose all the waste into the nearest river commonly the Tiber river. This does not sound like a

sanitary solution, but it was better for the Romans than leaving the sewage lying in the streets.

Aqueducts were also another commonly known Ancient roman invention. The romans

enjoyed a variety of facilities, many of these would not have been made possible if they had not

mastered the technique of building aqueducts to tap water from rivers, springs and other water

preservations. The first Roman aqueducts were built in 312 BC and took of as an engineering

marvel that used the downhill flow of water into the city centers. The aqueduct network relied on

various factors and the use of gravity to maintain a continuous flow. Once 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.

The Roman numeral system was essential in Ancient Roman history. The Roman

numerals originated in ancient Rome. The system constituted one of the most popular number

systems that is still used for various purposes today, the first usage of the system dates all the

way back to 900 and 800 BC. Back then, the existing numbers and counting systems could not

keep up with ever increasing calculation requirements. The roman numerals were developed to

serve the exact purpose of delivering a standard counting method that could be efficiently used in
communications and trade. Though the Roman numbers also came with flaws such as absence of

the number zero and the inability to calculate fractions, among many others. However, the

numbers were able to survive even after the fall of the ancient Roman Empire.

Ancient Roman roads and highways were another vital invention that is still used to this

day. The main reason behind ancient Rome's impeccable and effective administration of such a

vast domain was 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

all 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.

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

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

efficient and fast. These expertly engineered routed 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.

The subject of ancient Roman Inventions is extremely broad and varied. The long

duration and broad geographic spread of the Roman empire makes it a vast subject. It was

studied in Roman times by the likes of Pliny in his Natural History, through the Renaissance and

into modernity. Each period of history has had its own interpretation of what to consider worthy

of consideration as a Roman Invention.

Works Cited:
www.study.com/academy/lesson/the-roman-arch-definition-construction-history
www.http://mariamilani.com/ancient_rome/ancient_roman_inventions.htm
www.history.com