Roman Architecture example essay topic

Civil Engineering has been greatly influenced by the Romans. Their civilization was the first to recognize what could be done with water, and they utilized their knowledge to create aqueducts to transport that water. Their engineering feats are still remarkable today, as many bridges and aqueducts are still standing utilizing the arch and cement. Many of their ideas are still put to use today. Aqueducts are still used to transport water, even though California's extensive aqueduct system which yields 3 billion gallons of water per day, the Romans accomplished their system 2000 years before a comparable system was created (Crystal).

The arch was also a brilliant design as it was used as the main structure for bridges until the 17th century. Even today the arch is still a reliable source for bridge building. The Romans were ahead of their time with their brilliant aqueducts. The Roman society, like any other, had its humble beginnings. The history of their architecture runs virtually in step with the history of their empire to an extent. As the Empire expanded so did the architecture, and as Romans became more magnificent their architecture followed.

Roman architecture had its humble beginnings as a form of worship. The first Roman architects were the ancient priests and dwellers who made areas of sacrifice and worship for their gods. At first, their homes were simple huts but as they grew smarter and more aware of their surroundings, they erected monumental sites for their gods. This space shall be for worship and for nothing else; it shall be four-square; whatever is done or said in this holy space the gods shall be aware of; whatever comes shall be a sign from the gods. (Brown 10) So, like many arts, Roman architectures roots are embedded in the worshiping and homage paid in religion. The Romans were, of course, not the first to unveil and practice many of their building philosophies; however, they built like no other society before them.

Their methods incorporated efficiency and sophistication to construct a whole new look. So with the rise of the Romans and the everlasting hail of Caesar after Caesar and Emperor after Emperor, Roman architecture expanded and influenced building over the world. Unlike the Empire, though, Roman design did not die at the hands of the Germanic's, or rather at the hands of self-destruction; it continued to expand and play a part in every major style throughout history. Today, a look at any bridge, tunnel, skyscraper and most buildings will reveal a Roman influence. Even through its empires own tribulations and defeat, architecture has stood as an everlasting symbol of what Rome once was, and what the rest of the world is today. Roman architecture cannot be looked at as a mere time period or cultural event, for its ramifications lie beyond cultures and beyond time itself.

Roman architecture is not a variable, it is, and forever will be, a constant. Unlike cultures before them, the Romans were not intimidated by the curve, Greece, like the Orient, had been shy of the curve. (Brown 20) It had proven very difficult for predecessors to successfully negotiate an angled surface; it not only took great skill, but the right kind of material and design. The Romans, however, saw great advantages in curved structures such as the arch, vault and dome. Use of the arch and its principles date back to ancient architecture; however, the Romans revolutionized the way the arch was used, and in that changed the face of architecture. The concept of the arch was to support a structure spanning a wide distance.

Builders before had used beams and columns for support, but they had sometimes been too weak. The Roman architects were not concerned with embodying an innovative new design; they were impressed with the practical advantages of the arch and the greater amount of load it could support. The concept was a step up from the Greek post-and-lintel system, where many temples and public structures were erected on columns. Through time, the arch proved to be worthy of any task, whether it was supporting a long bridge, or giving rise to a Gothic cathedral.

As is the case with many Roman designs, the arch can be seen in many modern structures. The vault was used by the Romans, predominantly, as ceilings and roofs of buildings or rooms and support for ceilings. It is basically a string of connected arches forming a semi-spherical structure. The simplest of the vaults was the barrel, or tunnel, vault. It was supported by straight walls on its side and was very sustainable. Another system the Romans fancied was the groin vault, where two barrel vaults come together and cross each other.

Vaults were used in structures like the Coliseum to cover corridors and in the public baths of Roman cities..