PR-2237IRE Ancient Rome

Roman Technology
The Romans were responsible for very few important inventions but have often improved on the technology
of other nations for they were fine engineers. They did not develop many labour-saving ideas because they
had a plentiful supply of slave and animal power.
Activity Box
Use the given words to fill in the gaps in the notes.
(a) circles dug water enclosure support beds clay pumped
The Romans could build piers to
arches in the
Then
the
bed was
the concrete pier built.
1
bridge
2
of rivers. An
3
was made with two concentric
4
of wooden piles.
5
was used between the piles and
6
in the middle was
7
or bailed out. The soft river
8
out and
(b) faced sand hardened Romans bricks Timber support mixture
Concrete is a
stones and
Roman Arch
3
in 200 BC.
4
was used to
1
of cement, water,
2
first used by the
5
the wall until the concrete
6
. The concrete core was then
7
with stones or
8
after it had set.
1. Logs driven into
river bed.
3. Clay filled gap.
A Coffer Dam
2. Wickerwork to hold
in the clay
4. Middle section filled with concrete after water
pumped out of centre.
5. The concrete then forms the base for an arch of a
bridge.
Stones or
bricks.
Concrete shovelled in.
Scaffolding for workers and to
support wall as concrete sets.
Roman Wall
Viewing Sample
(c) frame invent stones side top strong keystone wedges
The Romans didn’t
1
the arch but they realised how
wooden
support
frame
around a wooden
2 3
it was. Large shaped like
4 5
were built up on either
6
until the final
7 8
was locked into place at the
of the arch.
Prim-Ed Publishing www.prim-ed.com Ancient Rome – 63 –