The Roman technology is one of the most important aspects of the Roman civilization, this technology certainly was advanced Antiquité. It allowed the population growth of Rome but also its economic power gave him and its military power. Very many techniques, were forgotten after the fall of the Roman Empire following the Great invasions.

Roman technology is resulting from redécouverte or importation of novel method in fields as various as civil engineering, naval construction, making of materials… Some of these techniques have puses being redécouvertes and reproduced only as from the 19th century and thanks to science and with the mechanical power.

Acquisition of new technology

Foreign influences

The majority of what one imagines as origin Greek are in fact of origin Étrusque. The Etruscans had improved the techniques of vaults of stone, bridges or all types of constructions, but also the métallugie. The Etruscans had already paved cities and sewer S, contrary to quoted Greek whose roads were muddy and the sewers to the free air.

However a great part of Roman technology comes indeed from the Greek Technologie and in this direction he were good pupils. For example, so certain military techniques as that of the phalange also come to them from the Etruscans, from other their come from the Armée Macedonian with Alexandre Large the. Philosophy, the medicine and mathematics are of course of origin Greek but also certain agricultural techniques .

The Roman technicians are preserving and in 21 centuries, they only adopted the foreign techniques very slowly, except in the event of military need (For example, the Trirème S are copied those of the Carthaginian at the time of the First Punic War). The armours of dimension of Gallic mesh are another illustration. Certain innovations adopted by the barbarians also changed the power struggles, such as for example the adoption of the horseshoe by the German ones at the 2nd century.

The Romans did not integrate all technologies not put either their provision. For example, although knowing the Barrel Gallic since Ier century, they never really adopted it because there did not exist specific place to store the barrels and the amphoras were more easily transportable than those, in the sinuous cities, by the slaves. However even by preferring their amphoras, the technique of the barrel will be répendra and will be used punctually in all the empire.

Technical innovations

The culture and the Roman company did not encourage the innovation and the development of new ideas. The ideal Roman citizen was a veteran Lord's Prayer familias owner of slaves. There was little place for the scientists and the inventors or their predecessors: philosophical naturalists. In addition the safeguarding of the Innovation S being done only by the trade secrets what does not support the diffusion of the innovation. The period during which Roman technology innovated the most is the first century BC and second century BC, whereas the political and economic growth was also most considerable. Roman technology reached its appogée at the 1st century with the Ciment, the Plomberie, the Grues, Machine S, dome S, Arche S. For the agriculture, the Romans invent the Water mill, making it possible to substitute for the muscular force the hydraulic power, the Presse with oil, the base of metal plow… It has took more than one century so that the majority of Roman technologies reach the borders furthest away from the empire, it also has was necessary more than two centuries for other civilizations to copy or redécouvrir the techniques and the Roman know-how.

Transmission of the knowledge

The Roman achievements are for the majority of the achievements of Artisan S and for most imposing of scientists Architecte S, trained by a system of training which will have as a heir the Compagnonnage Moyen-âge. All master craftsmen gave their secrecies only to their apprentices in order to avoid the competition of other craftsmen and to ensure by their reputation of Master, the recruitment of the best apprentices. Vitruve was a rare exeption with this rule. One of these most famous scientists was Apollodore of Damas.

Us connaissont majority of their achievements that through the Latin texts translate of Arabic them even translated Greek texts, for example Héron of Alexandria or travellers describing the Roman achievements like Pline the Young person or Strabon.

The Roman technicians, to make their calculations, were to use the system of numeration Roman for the Roman Measuring units by using the Roman Abaque.

See also: education in Antiquity

Average techniques

Tools and exploitations of the resources…

See also: Wax tablet

Control of energy

The role of slavery

The abundance of slaves did not support the development of the techniques more not worked out and less couteurse in labor.

To know to make

See also: Roman Sciences

Many innovations were brought to the knowledge to make. Techniques of the Metallurgy, in Agriculture, in the marine of war, in Architecture of course (by including there the carpentry and the construction of machine of seat) form a specific knowledge which gives a technological advantage to the Romans. The Roman art and the techniques like the Goldsmithery, the Scuplture etc… are directly inherited the techniques Greek. The medicine and the Pharmacopée form an important knowledge, inherited the Greeks but that the Romans knew developed. The technical of conservation of the food and the agricultural techniques are described by many authors in Géoponiques. The knowledge to make in the construction of clothing is also important.

Achievements

The machines being as rare as useless because of the presence of many slaves. The control of space will be a major stake for the Romans and their more brilliant achievements are essentiellements architectural achievements: Road S, Aqueduct S, therme S, Bridge S, Amphitheater S.

Environmental impact

The Roman innovations had an environmental impact. The development of the S of Blé in the north of the empire led to the development of great agricultural domains and the increase in the populations in these areas.

One could measure that the rates of Plomb in the ice of the Antartique reached a peak which could be beaten only during the 20th century. Certain authors consider that the Intoxication S due to the ustensils in Bronze being used for the food are one of the causes of the Déclin of the Roman Empire of Occident, the assumption of the intoxication of pipings in Plomb was isolated owing to the fact that the walls of the pipes are recovered of limestone.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • forum Instrumentum
  • unc.edu

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