All the important buildings and homes were made of stone. As explosives had not yet been discovered, builders had to hack and hammer at the stone. Then the blocks of stone were mortared together with a mixture of sand and lime. Despite the great influence of the Greeks in their architecture, the Romans invented and mastered the use of the arch as a graceful and surprisingly strong way to provide supports. Some of the most magnificent examples of what the Romans were able to build in this way are still standing today, such as the Colosseum. The Roman Empire was filled with libraries, public baths, roads, bridges, country estates, mills, court and government buildings, palaces, and aqueducts.
One way the Romans were able to keep their Empire intact was with an impressive system of roads. Most roads went straight across the countryside, and were built slightly higher in the middle for drainage. The Romans also built roads up and over the Alps, and the curves and supports for these prove what marvelous engineers they were. Many of their roads are still used today. It is said that at one point the Roman Empire had more miles of road than the United States currently has in interstate highways. Imagine building all of this with only hand tools and beasts to help!
The Roman Arch of Titus was constructed in 82 AD and still stands today. The Roman Emperor Domitian had the arch built in honor of his brother Titus and his military victories. It was reconstructed in the 19th century. One of the most famous monuments in France, The Arc De Triomphe was modeled after the Roman arch.
Assignment
Name one famous monument we have in the United States and give a brief description of what it stands for.
