Personally, I can’t say that archaeology is a field that I would specifically want to get into. While I’m interested in the social sciences and I intend to work within its array of careers, archaeology is more of a “hands-on” job than I’d want. I think I would enjoy being part of the uncovering of important historical past, but I don’t think this would be enough to sustain me in the job.
If I was an archaeologist, I think I’d choose the Romans or the Aztecs. While the former is obvious given this blog and my interest in their military and political history, the culture and tradition of the Aztecs in my continent of North America would entice me to study them as an archaeologist.
A decade ago, archaeologists investigating a bathing area within the remains of an ancient Roman civilization discovered the head of a marble statue of a figure likely representing Zeus. The head of Zeus points to the mythology closely tied to Roman culture and ancient explanations of the world, where the supernatural prevailed over scientific understanding. The fact that discoveries such as this statue head are still being found shows that archaeology is still a relevant field of study.
As we look back upon the events of history, the sheer amount of events, people and stories can clutter up important developments. With this in mind, it’s important to view the past through the filter of historical significance, where we must assess people, events and inventions on the basis of their impact on then and now. Today, we’ll take a look at a few of the useful inventions integral to the advanced ancient Roman civilization. Out of the many creations of this society, none were quite as key to the development of humanity as the creation of bound books, the newspaper, and modern concrete.
Bound Books
Example of old bound books using the technique of the Romans
As opposed to the cuneiform tablets of the Sumerians, or the scrolls later made by the Egyptians, the Romans bound their writings in animal skins or wax tablets. This form of book was originally called a codex by the Romans, meaning “block of wood”. The codex was the very first example of pages being bound in this efficient manner. Bound books made the medium a lot more accessible and durable, which allowed knowledge to be much easier to attain. In other words, this form of book revolutionized the ability to create lasting writings and significantly helped the Romans in the passing of culture. This invention didn’t only affect the Romans in the transfer of their knowledge and culture, but binding pages became the new standard for books. This invention is incredibly widespread, as books are still used today. This is also an early example of how ancient civilizations thrived through transferring knowledge to the following generations, as this allowed said progress to continue and grow. The binding of books just gave Rome the most efficient method of creating easily readable text for this purpose. From Rome’s use of binding as a medium for the notebooks of Caesar, the biblical writings later on, or the use of books in the future, this method of passing down information left an impact on the world.
The Newspaper
Ancient Roman writings used to describe current events
The Romans also made the first iteration of the newspaper, called the Acta Diurna. This artifact was made out of carved stone or metal or written on papyrus. This can be considered the first type of newspaper, as it was filled with news and posted in public places.The Acta Dinura dates back to at least before 60 BCE, where it was utilized to inform people of daily events in Roman society. Due to this document being posted regularly, people became more informed and knowledgeable about the society they lived in. This may not be as notable as the creation of bound books, but it’s also notable as a tool for the transfer of information. Not just Romans were affected, as this was just the first newspaper, and newspapers have persisted throughout history. It’s safe to say that most people since have felt the effects of this artifact given its longevity. The Roman creation of the newspaper acts as another demonstration of the public’s need to know or be involved in the control of the civilization (the latter seen later as a push for democratic political structure). An instance of this curiosity in relation to the newspaper is the fact that the Acta Dinura was in rather high demand. For example, the rich would send scribes into Rome to pick up the latest edition. its importance existed in being another form of connection between the people and their government, as well as another tool for educating the masses.
Modern Concrete
In 2nd century BCE, the Romans figured out how to make their own concrete (called opus caementicium in Latin) and apply it to architecture for long-lasting and impressive structures. This caused the Roman Architectural Revolution, where the civilization built structures such as the Pantheon. The inclusion of volcanic ash in the production of the concrete made it especially sturdy, resulting in buildings that still stand today.The changes and uses of concrete as administered by the Romans proved that it was a sturdy and reliable building material. They essentially made concrete mandatory in the building of structures, developing many long-lasting cultural icons with this artifact. This is still widely used today, and the structures of the Romans are still standing today, 2,000 years on. Roman concrete is just an early example of effective mixtures and usage which later led to much more development through architecture. The realizations about and use of concrete by ancient Roman people in the building of their historical structures demonstrates what people could do with the resources and skills at their disposal. Once the basic needs of a civilization were met, they could go on to contribute in cultural outlets, such as these massive buildings.
Here’s a video on a technique that the Romans used to reinforce their concrete:
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Acta | Ancient Roman Publication.” Encyclopedia Britannica. March 3, 2015. Accessed February 23, 2018. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Acta.
TIME. “Scientists Have Figured Out How Ancient Rome’s Concrete Structures Have Survived 2,000 Years | TIME.” YouTube. July 6, 2017. Accessed February 23, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-c3YSuYjE.
Roman Ramblings 