Roman engineers transformed their capital into the most advanced city of the ancient world. Their roads, bridges, aqueducts, and sewers helped unite the largest empire of its time.
Roman Roads
The Romans particularly excelled at building roads. These roads made it easier to travel, move troops, collect taxes, and trade with faraway provinces. Many of the roads, bridges, and aqueducts built by the Romans are still used today. The expression, “All Roads Lead to Rome,” refers to the fact that Rome stood at the center of the empire’s vast road network.
Roman roads were engineering marvels. Workers first dug a deep trench and filled it with layers of stone and gravel to create a solid foundation. Large paving stones formed the surface, while the road was built slightly higher in the middle so rainwater drained into ditches along the sides instead of collecting in puddles. You can still travel on roads constructed more than 2,000 years ago.
Aqueducts
Roman engineers brought water into the city by building water bridges called aqueducts. Most aqueducts carried water through covered channels that sloped gently downhill. The water flowed by gravity alone, without pumps or engines. Nine aqueducts provided the Roman people with 38 million gallons of water per day. Parts of the Roman aqueduct system still supply water to fountains in Rome.
Roman Concrete
Another Roman invention helped many of these great buildings survive for nearly 2,000 years. Roman engineers developed a remarkably durable concrete by mixing volcanic ash with lime and water. Unlike many modern concretes, it became even stronger over time, especially when exposed to water. This allowed the Romans to build massive bridges, harbors, temples, and domes that still stand today. Scientists continue to study Roman concrete in hopes of creating longer-lasting building materials.
Amphitheaters
The Romans built many huge stadiums called amphitheaters. People would gather in amphitheaters to watch shows with clowns, jugglers, acrobats, trained animals, and dramatic performances. Some festivals lasted for several days and drew thousands of spectators.
Gladiators
Some Roman entertainment was very cruel. People would watch fights between wild animals and gladiators. Gladiators were usually slaves or criminals who fought with swords against animals or one another. Before each contest, thousands of cheering spectators filled the amphitheater as musicians played and the fighters entered the arena. A skillful gladiator might win his freedom by defeating an opponent. It was not unusual for a gladiator to be killed.
The Colosseum
The greatest Roman amphitheater, the Colosseum, still dominates the Roman skyline. Completed in 80 CE, it could seat about 50,000 spectators. Crowds entered through dozens of numbered entrances, allowing tens of thousands of spectators to reach their seats efficiently. Only a portion of the Colosseum remains standing. Earthquakes destroyed some of the structure. Today, millions of tourists walk through the Colosseum each year, following the same passageways once used by Roman spectators. Some of the stone used to build St. Peter’s Basilica, the church in the Vatican where the Pope resides, came from the Colosseum.
Rome’s Sewers
Perhaps the greatest Roman engineering achievement was the sewer. Rome was built among seven hills beside the Tiber River, where rainwater often collected in the low-lying valleys. Roman engineers built a vast sewer system to carry away wastewater and drain marshes, making the city cleaner and healthier.
The population of the city of Rome swelled to more than one million people at the height of the empire.
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Mr. Donn has an excellent website that includes a section on Ancient Rome.