We’ve all heard the saying Rome wasn't built in a day. But have you ever wondered what was so great about building Rome that people still don't get tired of giving its example?
Massimo Virgilio/Unsplash | The Roman history is filled with tales of innovations that helped the city become the greatest ruler in the world
Suppose that's a question that has ever boggled you. In that case, you're in the right place, 'cuz today we're listing down some innovations that etched Rome’s name in the pages of history as the most inspirational civilization.
Without further ado, let's get started, shall we?
Newspapers
In times where education wasn't something everyone pursued, Romans had newspapers making rounds in the city. And not just any newspapers (no sir!), ancient Roman newspapers were written on stone or metal and sent to heavily trafficked places only. They mostly had military achievements, birth and death notices, games, and bouts happenings engraved on them, but every now and then, they featured human interest stories too, similar to the ones Owen Wilson wrote in Marley & Me.
AncientPages | Ancient Roman newspapers were written on stone or metal and sent to heavily trafficked places only
Aqueducts
Romans were way ahead of their time. They had access to almost everything starting from public toilets to fountains to underground sewage systems. But none of those innovations would have been possible if it weren't for aqueducts. Aqueducts were an essential source of water supply for the Romans. These channels transported water to cities located as far as 60 miles using only gravity. They were built so smartly that water could easily travel through them with ease. Not only did the aqueducts back Romans in ancient times, they also help many people in the city even today.
Concrete
There's no doubt about the fact that Romans were great builders, but what's inspiring is that they were also intelligent people who knew how to make the most of their resources. How else would structures like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon still stand strong otherwise? Romans used slaked lime and volcanic ash, aka Pozzolana, while building most of their structures. They combined this mixture with volcanic rocks called ‘tuff’ to form durable concrete that could bear anything, even the harsh seawater. When they achieved what they wanted, they used this concrete to build bridges, monuments, piers, and harbors.
The Julian Calendar
The best gift Romans could have given us is the Julian calendar. Though we don't follow it now, it acted as a base for the Georgian calendar we follow every day. Earlier, Romans followed the Greek model, which operated around the lunar cycle. But since they believed even numbers were unlucky, all their months had odd-numbered days. In 46 B.C., when astronomer Sosigenes and Julius Caesar aligned the calendar with the solar year, this practice was ruled out. People followed the Julian calendar for a long time, but eventually, they moved to the Georgian calendar because the Julian calendar miscalculated the solar year by 11 minutes.
Pinterest | The Roman Julian calendar was the foundation for the Gregorian calendar we use today
Time-saving roads
The reason why Rome's army was so powerful and efficient was because of its roads. Roman roads were designed with speed of travel in mind. They were short and direct and saved time for the army. They also had mile markers or stone pillars for guiding people so that they didn't get lost or tricked by thieves or highwaymen.
Which of those innovations were you already aware of? Do let us know. And if you’ve got other interesting ones to add to this list, drop that in the comments as well.
