4 roman inventions

•The Roman Empire is considered to be

one of the most influential civilizations
of all time. From the Colosseum to
aqueducts, the impact of the Roman
Empire in shaping western history is
extremely significant.
•While many historical developments
and innovations have survived the test
of time, some remain a part of our
daily lives. These 18 ancient Roman
inventions still have an impact today. 
•

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Roman nmbers
• Roman numerals originated in ancient Rome, but
survived for some uses after the end of the Roman
Empire. The numbers in the system are
represented by combinations of letters from the
Latin alphabet. Some practical examples can be
seen at the entrances to the Roman Colosseum,
which are labeled with Roman numerals – XXIII (23)
to LIIII (54). 
• Starting in the 14th century, Roman numerals
began to be replaced by Arabic numerals, which
benefitted from the use of the zero, making them
much more useful for arithmetic and counting. Still,
Roman numerals are still seen today — most often
on clock faces or representing years on
architecture. 
Apartmannts
• Apartment living has long been the preserve of the Europeans. From Coco Chanel to Sigmund Freud, the apartments of
the rich and famous have become tourist attractions and objects of wonder, offering insight into the intriguing lives lived
within their walls. The earliest apartments, however, were far less glamorous.

•  

• As the city of Rome rose to prominence, rapid urbanization saw its population expand to such an extent that a great deal
of new housing was required to accommodate it. Rather than building outwards and broadening the city boundaries, the
architects and builders of the Eternal City looked to the heavens, constructing taller and taller buildings known
as insulae (‘islands’). The majority of the city lived in insulae, with only the wealthy and the elite able to afford their own
houses or domus. These became one example of many Roman inventions to mediate the growing urban population. 

•  

• These blocks were comprised of individual apartments, with the ground floor generally used as a shop, inn, or business
space. Although Emperor Augustus brought in regulations to ensure the safety of the insulae, they were often hazardous,
some reaching up to nine stories high and often being made of flammable materials, namely wood. While the apartment
buildings can be said to have had running water and basic sanitation provisions, these were scarcely sufficient to ensure
the hygiene of their many residents. Thankfully, apartment buildings have now come a long way from the insulae of
ancient Rome. 
Teeth filings
• While we have records of dental work taking place as far back as
2600 BC, the earliest physical evidence we have of cavity repair
comes from ancient Rome. In 100 BC, a Roman writer named
Celsus put together an extensive compendium of oral medicine,
including instructions on how to repair loose teeth, treat
toothache and soothe teething babies. 
•  
• In 1998, archaeologists discovered human remains in France from
the 1st or 2nd century AD and found a wrought iron implant in
one of the surviving molar teeth. Further investigation revealed
that the filling had been molded to the shape of the man’s dental
cavity through a process of hot-hammering and folding the
molten metal. This discovery allowed archaeologists and
anthropologists to review what they knew of dental practices in
the ancient world and demonstrated that the Roman inventions
were once again at the forefront of a new field.
•