Rome: Engineering an Empire

As we sit in our living rooms watching our big screen televisions we take a lot for granted. We are able to travel clear across this country on nicely paved roads, we turn on the tap and clean, fresh water emerges. What we so infrequently consider is how these important but often neglected aspects of our lives came to being. The answer in many cases is the Roman Empire. Over a thousand years ago Rome conquered the world largely through the advances they made in the field of engineering. This was a nation lead by some of history’s most brutal men, lead into battle with tactics and arms far beyond any other nation and gifted with men who could solve the most difficult engineering problems of the day. In the latest presentation by the History Channel they hit yet another home run with a look at how Rome engineered an empire. This program highlights what made Rome a world power, spanning three continents, and how the seeds for their fall where planted. Only the History Channel could possibly show this subject with intelligence so well mixed with entertainment.

The program begins on March 15, 44 BCE, as a lifeless Julius Caesar lies dead in front of the Roman Senate. This man almost single handedly doubled the size of the Roman Empire, he was one of the greatest military and political leaders the world has ever known and now he was murdered by those closest to him. Over a decade before his death Caesar wanted to take an army of over 40,000 men and do what no other Roman general could muster, invade Germany by crossing the Rein. This river marked the end of what was known by the Romans, beyond was uncharted and Caesar want to out do Alexander and seize what no man had ever hope to take. The solution was to design a bridge that was immense strength and stability, able to withstand the pounding of 80,000 feet along with all their amour, horses and weapons of war. It would have to span over four hundred feet of river, something may not make the records books today but back then it was considered impossible. To make things more of a challenge is the strength of the river’s current and its depth. Imagine how frightening this was for the folks on the formerly safe side of the river. As they watched the Roman army stripped tree after tree and slowly this bridge took shape and moved across the Rein. Even more amazing than the engineering innovations used to create the bridge was the speed of the Roman Army. A mere ten days after Caesar gave the order to build the bridge he was able to lead his army across the once foreboding and protective river. Even though the German forces where almost ten times that of the Romans they fled as Caesar’s forces marched into their lands.

One thing the Romans where exceptionally good at was being practical. The largest and most well equipped army in the world was useless unless you can get them to where they are needed. Once a country was firmly under Roman rule you needed a way to convey their wealth to your coffers and to govern. The answer to this dilemma was the Via Appia, the first true system of highways. To chart the straightest road possible the Roman engineers used a simple but brilliant device called the gromer. This was a metal cross on a vertical pole with plumbed strings hanging from it. With it the head of the road crew could sight in a straight line with amazing accuracy. This was great and got the job done but it was just about useless with corners. Because of this Roman roads are mostly straight with sharp turns. When an obstacle was encountered such as a mountain, their solution just cut through the mountain. This was really indicative of the Roman mind set, don’t go around, go through. Once the basic road was laid down a trench was dug and filled in with sand and boulders for a foundation and then covered with gravel. They even made sure there was proper drainage to make sure the roads where passable even in the worse weather. Part of this weather proofing was due to the Roman’s advancements in chemistry. They developed a water proof concrete that not only allowed for roads but was used in their monuments and their water ways. Under Augustus these roads expanded to cover the Roman Empire, basically the known world.

Now that a Roman solider could travel to any point in the known world the engineers looked inward for new challenges. Among the most significant was the development of the aqueduct. This system of tunnels and causeways allowed over 200 million gallons of water per day to flow into Rome. Not only did this provide fresh, potable water but the Romans developed a sewer system that removed the vast quantities of waste the citizens of the empire produced. This resulted in a new urban culture. More people where able to live in the city of Roman than ever before. It also gave huge bragging rights to Rome as the most civilized and cleanest city in the world.

Not all the great engineering feats of Rome where all that practical, some where just for the magnificence of the achievement. Rome was able to create buildings such as the Coliseum, a huge theater that was equipped with sliding walls, moving platforms and acoustics better than most theaters today. Originally the Flavian Amphitheater, the super dome of the ancient world. Construction was began by the Emperor Vestpasian in the year 72 CE and finally completed by his son Titus in 80 CE. This structure saw the deaths of thousands of men and animals, all for the hedonistic pleasure of the Roman citizen. And to think, people think there is too much violence on television in today’s world. The seating was divided along lines of status, with elaborate box seats for the rich and powerful as well as the cheap seats for the average citizen. Take a look at a modern football stadium and you will notice that the design was right from this ancient building.

As usual the History channel makes learning fun. Many of the younger viewers may not even be aware that they are actually learning something. The program follows the history of Roman from one ruler to the next, showing how each man brought new innovations to the world through the imagination of Roman engineers. The program is far from dry, each segment explains the man that ruled and how the times he lived affected his decisions. There are naturally the no famous talking head experts that explain some of the facts and details but in typical History Channel fashion the where able to get professors that where able to talk in an animated fashion about their areas of expertise. HBO has announced their latest dramatic series, Rome. Before you sit down to see their view of History do yourself a favor and look at history at its best on the History Channel. I have never been disappointed in one of their presentations and this one is no exception.

Posted 8/24/05