Roman influence on technology

Roman influence on technology

LOTS : I can idenify the ancient Roman inventionsMOTS : I can explain how Romans influenced our modern world HOTS : I can write a paragraph about which invention would improve the life of Romans

ANCIENT Roman TECHNOLOGY

When you think of technology, what comes to mind? Computers? Cell phones? Maybe even a robot or two? Well, back in the ancient days technology was booming, but not in the way you think. Technology actually just means using science to help solve common problems in life, and the ancient Romans had plenty of problems to solve. In fact, some of their technologies can still be found in the modern world.

Central heatingThe ancient engineers invented a system that circulated hot air under the floor and surrounding walls through hollow spaces in columns. Their villas and public bath houses had stone floors supported by columns. It was used to transport heated air to warm the space, it was the closest thing to central heating we use today.

Roman roads Many of the old roads in Rome are being used even today. The Romans used a combination of dirt and gravel with bricks. This combination made the roads very strong. These roads were then completed with directions and stone marks. Having proper roads helped them to send messages faster and trade better.

For the Romans, do you think the road was as important technology to them as the mobile phone is to us today? Why or why not?

Apartment buildings The number of people was rising day by day and people needed housing space to construct homes. This was the time when the architects thought of a brilliant way of building apartment buildings to create separate living spaces on the same foundation. The result was apartments or insulae (islands) as they were called in Rome. However, these apartments were reserved for poor people as the rich people preferred their own separate housing spaces.

Imagine you’re the emperor of the Roman Empire and live in Rome. As emperor, you need to send a message to the governor of Britannia. How would you send this message?

Sending information from one place to another was very difficult , and they had to come up with a new idea. This was when Emperor Augustus established a system that could help the situation. It was a way by which messages could be transferred between provinces with the help of vehicles such as the horse cart. So, the first postal service in Europe was formed. How do we communicate today?

Imagine that you are a Roman Emperor and you can bring one new technology to the country. Write about : the key features of this new technology ; why this new technology will improve the life for the Romans ?