5 Historical Roman Inventions That Shaped The Modern World

Mar 15, 2023

By: The Feed

Roman Numerals

The now-immortal numbers were created in ancient Rome and continued to be used in a few applications after the fall of the Roman Empire, like trade and communication.

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Newspaper

While the Romans did not invent the contemporary system of daily newspapers, they did have something akin to it. They frequently wrote news and current events on papyrus or wax slabs that were left in public areas.

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Formalized Sanitation

Sanitation, another important Roman invention, is still essential today. Romans were experts in the field of civil engineering. Their sewage and sanitary plumbing systems highlight their engineering prowess.

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Arched Halls

Romans didn't originate the arch, but they did design the architectural arch, which allowed them to build better aqueducts, larger structures, and bridges. The arch creates a solid path beneath it that can support large structures.

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Hypocaust

Similar to modern central or radiant floor heating, the hypocaust system was an early kind of underfloor heating. These devices spread heat from an underground fire throughout a room that was below a floor.

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