ANCIENT
Winter 2020· Torch: U.S. · ANCIENT TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
ANCIENT
TECHNOLOGY
Kaleigh Ruegg, CAJCL
When you think of technology, you probably think of your phone, computer, or tablet, but what did the ancient Romans consider technology? While the Romans lacked our electronic gizmos, they nonetheless prided themselves on their new engineering and medical marvels just as we value our technology today.
In 300 B.C., Rome started increasing its sewer and sanitation systems by building aqueducts. The Romans may not have invented these structures, but their engineering capabilities spread these pipelines made of stone and concrete for up to sixty miles. Out of ancient Rome's eleven aqueducts, one, the Aqua Virgo, is still in use today. With a little help from modern technology, it was restored during the Italian Renaissance and is now known as the Acqua Vergine.
Another accomplishment of Roman technology was their improved roads. Similar to today, the Romans placed distance markers on their roads, which were made of granite and hardened volcanic ash. They were also curved to the side to allow for water drainage. As the Romans quickly built roads across the empire (the majority of southern Europe), they improved communication over long distances, increased the rate at which soldiers could travel, and became essential in maintaining a vast empire.
A classic symbol of the Roman era is its distinct architecture. The Colosseum, Pantheon, Circus Maximus, Arch of Constantine, Temple of Bacchus, and so on, all have something in common: the arches.
The Romans were the first civilization to effectively construct buildings with arches that could sustain for years, due to the even distribution of weight, another engineering milestone. The Romans used a segmental arch design, which resists thrust, and has thus kept many of these ancient buildings from crumbling for thousands of years.
In addition to advancing architectural technology, the Romans also contributed to medicine. Since the Romans were often in battle, they began to improve the medical aid provided to soldiers during the Augustan era. With surgical medics at work during battles, Roman soldiers began to live longer than the average person, likely due to hemostatic tourniquets and arterial surgical clamps, which decreased blood loss. The medics also disinfected their tools in hot water, a sterilization component that reduced the soldier's risk of infection. While this concept is practiced in today’s world, it was revolutionary for the 2nd and 3rd centuries but was not officially adopted until the 19th century.
During these times, as we rely on technology more than ever, think about how in another thousand years cell phones will be an ancient concept much like our perception of Roman aqueducts.
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