Contributions of the Romans

The most famous engineers of antiquity, the Romans, devoted more of their resources to public works than did their predecessors (3). With cheap labor, including thousands of slaves, and abundant raw materials, they built arenas, roads, aqueducts, temples, town halls, baths, and public forums. 

Scholars divide Roman history into two main periods (2) the Republic, which extended from 535 b.c., the legendary date of Rome s founding, until 24 B.C. and [2] the Empire, which extended from 24 b.c. until a.d. 476 (22). The Republic was an age of conquest and exploitation of Rome s extensive colonial possessions, a time when Roman engineering achievements were confined largely to Italy. The Empire was a relatively peaceful period in which public works were extended into the colonies remains of some of these engineering facilities can be found today in Spain, France, North Africa, and the Near East (22). 

In contrast to the Greeks, the Romans were practical builders who relied more on experience than on mathematical logic and science. Their works were simple in design yet impressive in scale and hold in execution (22). By and large, their works emphasized function rather than the artistic or aesthetic. 

Some of the most famous of Roman engineering works are briefly described below  

The Circus Maximus was a race course where games and contests were held. It is believed to have been either built or greatly enlarged by Tarquinius 

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