Concrete and the Arch
HIST 1421: Greek and Roman Civilization
University of the People
Unit 7 Written Assignment
Student #S108497
Rome learned and adapted many architectural and building skills from around their empire. In particular two things allowed Romans to achieve many architectural feats that are still standing today, close to two millennia later. The first item was the development and use of concrete as a building material. The second was the implementation and intelligent use of a true arch structure. With these two building tools Rome made amazing, functional, and lasting structures that supported the greatness of their empire.
The Romans initially would use rubble as a filling substance in the walls of their buildings. While this would give some …show more content…
10).
Including the ease of building that this gave, it also allowed for much more weight to be placed on concrete walls, which when used with the arch, allowed for some of the most breathtaking public works of the Romans.
Discussion of the Roman arch generally cannot be conducted without mention of the
Roman aqueducts. While the act of getting water throughout the system through the use of only gravity is in itself an amazing feat, you cannot ignore this prime example of the use of the arch shown over and over in the network. With the arch, the Romans were able to reduce the materials that were needed to make the aqueduct and build the structure for the causeway over large expanses with substantially less effort and materials than a solid wall would have taken.
(Pont Du Gard Roman aqueduct, Southern France 1 st century CE, Cartwright, 2012)
The true arch, developed by the Romans, allowed for the displacement of the weight of whatever was being supported. The central portion, or keystone, of the arch passed the weight along
HIST 1421: Greek and Roman Civilization
University of the People
Unit 7 Written Assignment
Student #S108497
Rome learned and adapted many architectural and building skills from around their empire. In particular two things allowed Romans to achieve many architectural feats that are still standing today, close to two millennia later. The first item was the development and use of concrete as a building material. The second was the implementation and intelligent use of a true arch structure. With these two building tools Rome made amazing, functional, and lasting structures that supported the greatness of their empire.
The Romans initially would use rubble as a filling substance in the walls of their buildings. While this would give some …show more content…
10).
Including the ease of building that this gave, it also allowed for much more weight to be placed on concrete walls, which when used with the arch, allowed for some of the most breathtaking public works of the Romans.
Discussion of the Roman arch generally cannot be conducted without mention of the
Roman aqueducts. While the act of getting water throughout the system through the use of only gravity is in itself an amazing feat, you cannot ignore this prime example of the use of the arch shown over and over in the network. With the arch, the Romans were able to reduce the materials that were needed to make the aqueduct and build the structure for the causeway over large expanses with substantially less effort and materials than a solid wall would have taken.
(Pont Du Gard Roman aqueduct, Southern France 1 st century CE, Cartwright, 2012)
The true arch, developed by the Romans, allowed for the displacement of the weight of whatever was being supported. The central portion, or keystone, of the arch passed the weight along