Engineering under Roman empire

Question 1

When was Rome founded and by whom?

Answer 1

753 BC by Romulus.

Question 2

What were the three forms of Rome as a nation? In what order?

Answer 2

1. Roman kingdom
2. Roman Republic
3. Roman empire

Question 3

How did the Roman republic end?

Answer 3

Julius Caesar walked his army into Rome without right of triumph.

Question 4

What is right of triumph?

Answer 4

An allowance to march your army through Rome if you have just proved successful in battle?

Question 5

Who was the first emperor of Rome?

Answer 5

Augustus Caesar.

Question 6

What was the Phalanx system?

Answer 6

A technological and strategic Roman army system, adopted from the Greeks.

Question 7

What did the Romans adopt after the Phalanx system, making the Phalanx obsolete?

Answer 7

The 4 line system. 4 lines is a legion.

Question 8

What did the 4 line system compose of?

Answer 8

1. First line - 1200 Velites, youngest, sheildman, there to intercept
2. Second line - 1200 Hastiti, First assault, small shields, short spears
3. Third line - 1200 Principes,
   Strong, big, tough, heavy armour
4. Fourth line - 600 Triarii, veterans of warm, best armour, last resort

Question 9

What was a huge benefit of the 4 line system?

Answer 9

Constantly exposed to fresh troops. Unlimited supply of troops from multiple alliances helped this.

Question 10

What were the reforms of Marius?

Answer 10

After 107 BC the landless and poor can enter the army, get a paid career, and receive land after 25 years of serving.

Question 11

What backfired about the reforms of Marius?

Answer 11

Eventually had to give out much more land than they expected to. This is why the Romans expanded as vastly as they did.

Question 12

What is a Castra?

Answer 12

A stone fort for each legion, permanent and built once a year for each legion. All were standardized.

Question 13

What was all within a Castra?

Answer 13

• running water
• tower/castle
• factory
• hospital
• veterinary stands
• private and public toilets, baths

Question 14

What is significant about the discovery of Vindolanda writing tablets?

Answer 14

Proved vast communication networks in Roman times with discovery of standardized envelopes and mail.

Question 15

How large was the road network of the Romans?

Answer 15

Over 80,000 km of roads.

Question 16

Why was the road system so vast?

Answer 16

• Quick way of moving people

- Kept people busy

Question 17

What was a Groma?

Answer 17

A Greek invented measuring tool used to get straight angles.

Question 18

What were the 6 layers of a Roman road?

Answer 18

1. Pavimentum (compacted sand or dry earth)
2. Statutem (crushed rock)
3. Rudus (cemented large gravel)
4. Nucleus (cemented sand and small gravel)
5. Summun (large stone slabs)
6. Parallel drainage ditch

Question 19

What was the dug out called for the roads and how deep was it?

Answer 19

Fossa, 1.5m deep.

Question 20

What was located every 15 miles along Roman roads?

Answer 20

Inns, hotels, horse changing stations.

Question 21

What was the Millarium Aureum?

Answer 21

Center forum of Rome, a giant column would have directions to every single city in the Roman empire with instructions on how far, how long a time, roads, and where to change horses.

Question 22

What main support did Romans initially use in their architecture?

Answer 22

Concrete - lime, volcanic ash, water. NOT marble

Question 23

What were the three architectural orders?

Answer 23

1. Doric - cheapest, traditional, from Greeks
2. Ionic - favourite, from Ionia, synonymous with Rome
3. Corinthian - most expensive, difficult, labour intensive

Question 24

How was the upkeep of the city of Rome paid for? Why?

Answer 24

Entirely by wealthy people. Was considered prestigious since you’d get your name put on anything you paid for.

Question 25

What is the Flavian theater also incorrectly known as?

Answer 25

The Coliseum.

Question 26

What is the story of Colossus of Nero?

Answer 26

He imposed due taxes on Romans, was hated, forced to commit suicide, was killed after he didn’t. His statue was beheaded upon his death and new heads were placed upon it with each new emperor.

Question 27

Why was the Flavian theatre built?

Answer 27

Was built by the successor to Nero as a message that he is for the people, propaganda.

Question 28

What were the games shown within the Flavian theatre considered to be?

Answer 28

Form of social control.

Question 29

What are the three things that must be provided in order for the public to remain happy?

Answer 29

• Decent food
• Occupation
• Free entertainment

Question 30

What were the two reasons Christians were awful in the eyes of Romans?

Answer 30

• Didn’t pay taxes to Romans and refused authority

- Would drink blood and eat human flesh (blood and body of Christ)

Question 31

What was Cicrus maximus?

Answer 31

The largest public structure, used for chariot races.

Question 32

What would the Romans use instead of toilet paper?

Answer 32

Sponges, these would be shared, gross.

Question 33

What was a problem of the plumbing system in Rome?

Answer 33

Lead pipes.

Question 34

When did Greek philosophy enter Rome?

Answer 34

Around 200 BC.

Question 35

Who was Posidonius?

Answer 35

He predicted correct theory of ocean tides.

Question 36

Who was Pliny the Elder?

Answer 36

Created first encyclopaedia.

Question 37

Who was Cladius Ptolemy?

Answer 37

An Alexandrian who wrote the Almagest, the first mathematical model of cosmos.

Question 38

How did the western Roman empire end?

Answer 38

Was not invaded or sieged, ran out of money. Visgoths destroyed buildings out of anger of no wealth.

Question 39

Who was Constantine?

Answer 39

New emperor who made everyone convert to Christianity.