Many bridges were built upon these arches, and so were the aqueducts, sewers, amphitheaters, and even the great Colosseum. The ancient Romans invented a number of surgical tools and techniques that led the way for subsequent developments in the fields of medicine and surgery. Opus caementicium (Roman concrete) was made from quicklime, pozzolana and an aggregate of pumice. The flush would then dump all the waste into the nearest river (usually the Tiber), which does not sound the best sanitary solution but was far better than leaving the sewage lying around in the streets. None of these aquatic innovations would have been possible without the Roman aqueduct. Plus, who says that Egypt and Rome didn’t steal OTHER inventions from other places. Combined with volcanic rocks called tuff, this ancient cement formed a concrete that could effectively endure chemical decay. From engineering marvels like aqueducts and arches to the amazingly stable concrete that stood the test of time, the ancient Romans truly succeeded in inventing and innovating their way to become one of the most prominent empires of the ancient world. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. Early Roman calendars were likely cribbed from Greek models that operated around the lunar cycle. The ancient Greeks had a strong cultural influence on the Roman Empire, though the Romans did manage to take this influence and make it into something all their own. © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. The Romans made may contributions to the rule of law and their concept of the legal system is the basis for the legal systems of the western world today. The sword was very important. Many ancient Roman structures like the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum are still standing today thanks to the development of Roman cement and concrete. Its widespread use in many Roman structures was a key part of what is now known as the Roman Architectural Revolution. The cost of food and arms for each soldier was deducted from his salary, which was contingent on his rank. Incorrect: the most influential civilization on Rome was the preceding Etruscan civilization. Why did the Romans put so much effort into building roads? They had to do this because Rome had grown in size and it was impossible to find a natural source of fresh water in the city. When the first modern newspapers were introduced in Europe, they may have had no bearing on the early Acta Diurna, but these news sheets were the pioneers of news publishing history. While the Romans did not invent the aqueduct—primitive canals for irrigation and water transport existed earlier in Egypt, Assyria and Babylon—they used their mastery of civil engineering to perfect the process. 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