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EASY READ Ancient worlds

What did the Romans build?

The Romans were expert builders and engineers. They built thousands of kilometres of roads across their empire. They also built great aqueducts, long stone channels that carried water into towns and cities from rivers or lakes. Many incredible structures built by the Romans still stand today.

The Pont du Gard aqueduct in southern France
The Pont du Gard aqueduct in southern France

Aqueducts

Building an aqueduct bridge
Building an aqueduct bridge

Romans built aqueducts to channel water direct from mountain springs to towns and cities all over the empire. Some aqueducts were more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) long. They had to be built with just the right slope along their length so that the water flowed freely. Where an aqueduct crossed a valley, engineers built a bridge made from stone or brick. Rounded arches were often used: they had great architectural strength.

Workers build a road
Workers build a road

Roads

Roman roads were built to last. Good roads allowed soldiers, messengers and the delivery of supplies to travel in all weathers. The Romans used their engineering expertise to build long-lasting, straight roads.

To build a road, workers would first dig out a trench. They then stamped down the base of the trench. A layer of sand was laid. Stones and clay followed, then a layer of concrete with stones or broken pottery. A final layer of concrete or flat slabs completed the road.

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The Romans built roads and aqueducts across the empire
The Romans built roads and aqueducts across the empire

Concrete

The Romans invented concrete, a mixture of lime, volcanic ash, stones and water. After it had dried and hardened, it became a building material that was both strong and light. Many Roman buildings and structures have concrete cores, faced with marble, stone or brick.

Interior view of the Pantheon
Interior view of the Pantheon

The Pantheon in Rome, meaning "temple of every god” has a huge concrete dome. It measures 43.3 metres (142 feet) across. Built in about AD 126, it is still the world's largest unreinforced concrete dome today.

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Roman engineering

Consultant: Philip Parker
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The Pont du Gard aqueduct in southern France
Building a large, arched bridge for the aqueduct required carefully planning. First, concrete columns with brick or stone outer casings were built. Then wooden frames linking one column to the next were put in place. This supported the arch during its construction. Finally the covered water channel or conduit was built inside the top of the arched bridge.
Workers build a road from rubble cement and stone
The Romans built roads and aqueducts across the empire
Interior view of the Pantheon

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