Ancient Roman Archaeological Inventions
Americans like to think that their country is the most technologically advanced, but in reality many modern innovations have their roots in the history of ancient Rome. In fact, many of the systems people take for granted today, like a roadway system and running water, were initially developed by the Romans.
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Roads
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The ancient Romans had an advanced road system. The standard width of today's modern roads is based on widths used ancient Rome. The roads of that day needed to accommodate carts. Roads were constructed in various ways, including laying large slabs of stable stone along the path. It has also been shown that, at times, lava rock was used. The Romans also used road signs that told the traveler how much further he had to go to get to his destination, much like what we have today.
Triumphal Arches
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The aptly named Arc de Triomphe in Paris is an example of the triumphal arch. Much of the architecture gracing major cities today is thanks to the insights the ancient Romans gathered on the art. Triumphal arches were used regularly in ancient Roman architecture, including in the Coliseum and in several of the ancient churches that were built in the same time period.
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Aqueducts
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In addition to a sophisticated road system, the Romans perfected the art of plumbing with aqueducts. Running both underground and overground, these aqueducts delivered fresh spring water to the inner city. These aqueducts also contributed to the Romans having public bathrooms with continuous running water. They were usually made out of clay or wood with stone covering the base.
Surgical Instruments
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While rudimentary instruments were used for surgery years prior to the ancient Romans, the surgical tools found in the ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii are very similar to what is used in today's operating rooms. In fact, the ancient Romans did conduct several advanced surgeries for that time in history, including cosmetic surgery on the eyelids.
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References
- Photo Credit Rome image by Reza Baktar from Fotolia.com triumphal arch in paris image by Gary from Fotolia.com
