The Roman Empire rose to power in about 27 B.C. and lasted until 410. During this time, Roman influence reached its height and Rome established a lasting legacy in the history of western civilization. One aspect of the Roman legacy is their architectural achievements. Roman engineering and architecture stand out as some of the most marvelously sophisticated for the time, with the variety of structures they built and the means of construction. Roman architecture went through a golden age beginning in 27 B.C. and lasting until about 180 A.D. when the Empire began to decline. During this golden age, the Romans built coliseums, an intricate road network, aqueducts, and bathhouses. Many examples of these structures still stand today, a testament to Roman architecture genius. From among these four architectural achievements of the Romans, the best remembered is their road network (McCarty 120). The Romans designed their roads to last and, at the same time, to withstand both military and civilian traffic. They succeeded so well that some of these roads still function today, such as the Via Appia or Appian Way (see fig 1), which leads from Southern Italy to Rome (Boatwright 86). Most Roman roads started out as simple well-used tracks and paved much later. The Romans paved their roads by first adding a layer of crushed rock and rubble to the flat surface. This layer of debris was useful in providing a sturdy foundation and providing drainage for rainwater. Next, the Romans added a thick layer of sand and clay to the layer of debris. The final layer consisted of cut stone slabs (Giovanni). The Romans always wanted their roads to follow the shortest and straightest route. Sometimes this desire to build a straight and short road warranted extreme measures such as when the roads cut across swamps or through hills. Remarkably, the Romans could build tunnels to
In the Roman Empire roads begin to emerge throughout the city for the military to make haste to defend its city from enemies. The roads where essential for the growth of the empire, originally for the troops they soon began to use the roads for trade goods and communicating news to its neighbors. Roman roads varied from simple roads to the better paved roads that had cuts the stone to allow water to flow though while keeping the road itself dry. Rome had so many roads at one time that it was said all roads lead to Rome.
Throughout the ages, many scholars and future-scholars have offered an explanation for the meaning of structures from the ancient years, either by their placement or construction. None has fascinated or pushed scholars for reasons than structures and art of the ancient Romans, more specifically those constructed in the years of the Pax Romana and Crisis and Decline of the Roman Empire (27 BC to 284 AD).
In Rome the buildings were constructed under Roman Empire. The Roman Colosseum was constructed between 69 to 79 CE by the Vespasian emperor, The Circus Maximum was built in the 2nd century B.C by the high emperor, in 31 B.C the fire destroyed it that led Emperor Augustus to rebuild the Circus in 82 AD, Ludus Magnus was a gladiatorial training school in Rome and it was originally built between 81-96AD by Emperor Domitian. The emperor’s theme was large public stone buildings that would bring the people of Rome together and also the emperor was rich and they had manpower. The emperors also patron towards the workers and also to prove that they are the great leaders. The emperors had money, a lot of workers to build the buildings to the Emperor’s satisfaction. The buildings were used by the public as entertainment where they would go and watch all sorts of races & fights.
Rome had many architectural buildings that we know of today. Many Roman building ways were copied right from how the greek people use to do theirs. Though they copied Greek style, they came up with their own style. They used many arches, some arches were used to show the wealth of a person, the fancier, the wealthier. Roman people made aqueducts. Aqueducts were able to bring the city of Rome, running water. One of the most famous aqueducts would be the Pont Du Gard, it ran for thirty miles and supplies twenty thousand gallons of water to th...
The ancient Romans were skilled engineers and have left lasting contributions in this field. The Romans built a great network of roads connecting cities throughout their empire. They also built aqueducts and bridges using arches for support. The Roman arch design was by far the most important innovation of their time. The arch, however, would have been useless without the discovery of concrete. The Romans had many other such discoveries that would make their engineering skills known throughout the world.
The Romans built a great and powerful empire. The Romans were able to build the empire through vast conquest and annexations from 3BC to 3 AD. Rome was maintained this huge empire with a disciplined army, tight administration and phenomenal communication with all conquered countries and cultures. These three things were made possible through technologically advances throughout the empire. These means helped build and maintain the great Roman Empire.
Have you ever felt insignificant while standing in front of a monumental building that you have seen in small images of your history book? No one could imagine the atmosphere and physical beauty inside the most beautiful structures in the world, the Pantheon and the Florence cathedral. While sitting at the fountain in front of the Pantheon, one can see the huge columns rising towards the entablature and the walls curving behind to form a cylinder. Although the exterior of the pantheon could look majestic, the interior is just as breathtaking. The first thing someone does when they enter the Pantheon is to look up at the coffered dome and the oculus. The important feature that seemed impossible to have been built during the time that the Pantheon
Roman houses evolved from the thatched-roof huts of the original roman civilization to the great villas of the late empire. Roman houses were not only built in Italy. There were Roman houses built in Greece, Africa, and Britain.
The two ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome were the best of the best during their time periods. Ancient Greece began around 2000 B.C. by the inhabitants known as the Mycenaean’s, followed by the Minoans. The Minoans built the foundation of Greece. The Roman Empire was founded around 753 B.C. by the two twins, Romulus and Remus. Romulus ended up killing Remus and built the city of Rome on one of seven rolling hills. Architecture was very important to both civilizations and they were always trying to out due the other. The architectural style of the Ancient Greeks and Romans was overall constructed and used differently.
It was so much more advanced than any empire that came before this time. Romans took a lot of pride in their their buildings and architecture and many of the structures they used back then are still used today, like columns and arches. The Romans used columns and arches in structures like the colosseum and the Circus Maximus, both which were buildings where gladiatorial games or chariot races were held. These structures are still used today, for example, you can see these structures at one of the most famous buildings in the United States, the White House. The architecture from the roman era has impacted modern day by giving us structures to add into our cultures and to important buildings around our
Have you ever seen or visited the Capital building, Washington or amphitheater of Arlinton, Virginia or Cabin John bridge of Washington aqueduct? If an answer is yes, then have you ever think that how we come up with this type of buildings? These all buildings’ basic structures are based on the Greek and Roman cultures’ architecture. Historical records of Western culture in Europe begin with Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Roman culture was very inspired from the Greece culture and they had used very basic ideas to build buildings and temples, to portrait sculpture. They modernized and improved their architectures and sculptures in decorative way and made a separate image in the world.
The Romans also excelled in the highly practical art, architecture. The Romans were the first people in antiquity to use concrete on a massive scale. By using concrete in their new architectural designs, the Romans were able to construct huge buildings, bigger than the Greeks ever could have dreamed of.
However, none of this is to say that the Roman Empire was not a great empire, It had many great qualities that kept it alive from 27 B.C. up to its fall in 477 A.D. That’s 504 years. If the Roman Empire were not strong, it wouldn’t have survived all those years. Accomplishments from the Roman Empire include aqueducts, bridges, the Silk Road, and Christianity. These achievements were left behind in its legacy which is still alive
From the time of the ancient Greeks all the way to modern day, some part of humanity has almost always been interested in the past. For the ancient Greeks, it was discovering Mycenaean ruins and composing stories about them. Today, inspiration is still drawn from classical architecture. One has to look no further than the U.S. capitol building, or even the University of Michigan's Angell Hall to see remnants of this architectural style. This raises the question of why does it still persists? Logically, the best way to answer this is to examine the origins of classical architecture, and what it represented then and now. Furthermore, the study of ancient architecture can show insights into past civilizations which otherwise would have been lost.
Behind every architectural work there is an architect, whether the architect is one man or woman, a small group, or an entire people. The structure created by any of these architects conveys a message about the architect: their culture, their identity, their struggles. Because of the human element architects offer to their work not just a building is made, but a work of art, a symbol of a people, a representation, is also created.