Roman Infrastructure Essay

1079 Words5 Pages
Roman Infrastructure: Architecture and Buildings The ancient Romans were known for revolutionizing architecture. They invented new and more efficient ways of building and also utilized many ideas to their full potential. The Romans have shown these with the Roman arch, the dome, and concrete. I will explain how they applied this to their architecture. The architectural technique of the arch is a trademark of Ancient Rome. The Romans applied the arch to many of their buildings for two reasons: as a support and for decoration. Two of the first structures to carry arches are bridges and aqueducts. It is sometimes said that the arch originated with the Romans. This should be differently stated because the arch itself was not originated by the Romans, but it was applied with great skill and success to various works of utility, and they made it a universal feature in civil buildings. This arch also influenced in the making of the vault and the dome. Both of those concepts come from the arch. The Roman dome was a hemisphere supported by a circular wall. An example of the dome can be seen in the temple called the Pantheon. Consisting of just three parts: a pasty, hydrate lime, pozzolana ash from a nearby volcano, and a few pieces of fist-sized rock, concrete was invented. This Roman invention revolutionized architecture and enabled previously impossible construction. Ancient Roman concrete has withstood the attack by elements for over 2,000 years. The basic construction techniques of the Romans must be better than those of modern practice as judged by comparing the products. Concrete permitted architects to cover vast spaces, allowing the construction of great amphitheaters and baths. Roman architects molded arches, vaults, and even domes from concrete, faced with bricks for added strength and decorated with an exterior layer of marble or stucco.
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