The Technological Innovations of

Classic Rome and Greece 

500 BCE- 476 CEBy Natalee Jones, Catherine Johnson,

and Natalie Wright

Greece:• 500 B.C.: Sun dial, water levels, lock and key, ore smelting and

casting are all being used in Greece• 500 B.C.: First water supply system in Athens has nine pipes

leading to a main well• 500 B.C.: Water system built by Eupalinus on Samos had a

three-quarter-long tunnel, 20 meter deep, and started simultaneously at both ends. It became known as on of Greek’s greatest constructions.

• 450 B.C.: Long walls from Athens to Piraeus finished• 440 B.C.: Arrow shooting catapult was developed in Syracuse• 432 B.C.: Parthenon finished• 400 B.C.: Greek philosopher Democritus suggests world is

made up of tiny particles called atoms• 387 B.C.: Plato founds Academy

Chronology

• 370 B.C.: Plato writes The Republic• 310 B.C.: Hellenistic astronomy is founded by Aristarchus of

Samos• 270 B.C.: Greek astronomer, Aristarchus, states the Earth

revolves around the sun• 250 B.C.: Greek mathematician, Archimedes, states laws of

specific gravity.• 170 A.D.: Ptolemy draws 26 maps of various countries

Chronology

ChronologyRome:• 326 BC: the Circus Maximus is built• 312 BC: the Via Appia is opened• 312 BC: the first aqueduct, the Aqua Appia, is built• 280 BC: Rome issues coins• 272 BC: a second aqueduct, the Anio Vetus, is built• 214 BC: war machines designed by Greek mathematician

Archimedes save the city of Syracuse, an• 240 B.C. First Latin literature, in Romeally of Carthage, from a Roman naval attack• 45 BC: Julius Caesar employs the Egyptian astronomer

Sosigenes to work out a new 12-monthcalendar (Julian calendar)• 17 BC: the theater of Marcellus• 2 AD: the Forum of Augustus constructed

Chronology • 25 AD: Agrippa builds the Pantheon• 79 AD: the Coliseum is completed• 81 AD: the Arch of Titus• 112 AD: the Forum of Trajan is constructed• 126 AD: The Pantheon is finished being constructed• 126 AD: The Pantheon is finished being constructed• 217 AD: the Baths of Caracalla are inaugurated• 312 AD: Constantine becomes emperor• 330 AD: Constantine I builds a new city, Constantinople

(Byzantium)• 356 AD: Rome has 28 libraries, 10 basilicas, 11 great public

baths, over 800 lesser baths, two amphitheaters, three theaters, two circuses, 19 aqueducts, 11 public fora, 1,352 fountains, 46,602 insulae (city blocks)

Analysis• Classical Rome and

Greece obtained new technological innovations during the period of 500 BCE- 476 CE. These items and elements improved the progression and expansion of such civilizations.

• Several innovations assisted in the defeat of enemies for land and protection.

• Technology was especially important during times of war.

• The need for improvement and survival of a nation required the new and developed tools.

• Agricultural practices became more efficient with the use of innovations.

• Transportation on water through the Mediterranean was necessary for trade.

• Technologies played a vital role in the progression of society.

• Rome and Greece were able to build as strong empires because of various advantages in technological advancement compared to other countries.

• Ancient Rome and Greece were small civilizations that began in the same ways as others.

• A stable government and social classes in society helped the civilizations grow and prosper.

• Religion and military played major roles as strong foundations before the innovations helped spark the age of new development.

• Greece became a high global power in Europe eventually leading to the transformation and build of ancient Rome.

• Technologies were discovered and invented assisting in the further development of classical Rome and Greece.

• Smaller inventions became widely used and made important for the economies of Rome and Greece.

• Roads, chariots, barrels, and aqueducts were several innovations that were invented by civilized people within these empires. They were vital roles to transportation, trade, sanitation, and fulfillment of societal needs.

• Militaries became more advanced and successful through the use of the phalanx and war ships. These were included in strategies to take down Persian armies in efficient ways.

• Innovations of law, medicine, and math assisted in societal development and expansion.

Process of ChangeEarly Later

Analysis of Change• Classical Rome and Greece were able to change during

this period because of influence that each gained on themselves and nearby nations.

• The changes of society were possible through development of medicine, geometry, bridges, trial, architecture, and agricultural inventions.

• Work became easier and more efficient on farmland.

• Order was kept through proper governance to stabilize

structure. • Construction became more abundant with population

and business increase. The use of mathematics created better understanding in the process.

ComparisonComparison of the Phoenician culture to the Classical Rome and Greece culture based on technological innovations

Similarities Differences

Both regions and cultures:

1. Created an alphabet.

2. Produced medicine for the better health of society.

3. Organized cities and mapped with architectural designs.

4. Political innovations-laws.

5. Navigation devices with astronomy.

6. Use of glass in economy.

1. Phoenicians did not use the military strategy of the phalanx and were not against rivalries with Persia. Rome and Greece held high military strategies to take down Persians.

2. Phoenicians were not as advanced in using roads or chariots for transportation. The invention of water ways in cities or a calendar for time was different amongst Rome, Greece, and the Phoenicians.

Analysis of Comparison

• The Phoenician culture dated from 1100-332 BC about 170 years before the Roman and Greek civilizations.

• This gap in time made a difference in various technological advancements between the different cultures.

• Phoenicians were limited to resources and area due to the location on Carthage island. This prevented the expansion and deep evolvement of inventions such as military strategies, roads, etc. that Rome and Greece obtained.

• The various inventions that were similar to these cultures were spread amongst the Mediterranean basin. They included alphabets, medicines, construction, study of the stars, political inventions of law, and other agricultural tools.

• Differences existed because of different timeframes and locations while similarities were shown through the cultures residing and flourishing in the Mediterranean basin.

Greek PIRATESPolitics•Independent city states (polis) •City states fought many wars with each other•Naval battles could be fought because of ships •Monarchy and emperors

Technology•Pottery making•Reformed military technology: use of hoplites and armor •Bronze tools •Athens improved ship building: the trireme was the fastest vessel of the time•Catapults, phalanx, units of measurement, gears, levers, pulleys

Intellectual•Humanism- art that values the uniqueness, talents, and rights of the individual•Socrates •Greek alphabet•Advancements in politics, philosophy, ethics, logic, poetry, rhetoric, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and many other sciences

Economy•The sleek new boats were used in long distance trade•Agriculture•Slavery was important for production

Religion•Polytheistic religion, worship of many gods

Society•Each city state developed its own distinct society because of geographic isolation

Art/Architecture•Sculpture and pottery•Harmony present in artwork

Roman PIRATESPolitics•Roman Republic had a powerful Senate, but wasn’t a democracy. Senate had real power. •Extended citizenship to all conquered people. •Romans fought many wars in the Mediterranean. •Became the Roman Principate later

Technology•Cement, roads, arches, atrium, coliseums, public baths, aqueducts, ballistic weapons, walls, bridges, and terraces all invented during Roman times •Military technology similar to Greece: phalanx, body armor, spears, men who own certain amount of land must serve•Use of precious metals

Intellectual•Latin language•Roman Law was complex

Economy•Some long distance trade, but not a lot.•Agriculture•Urban population•Several economic crises weakened the empire

Religion•Polytheistic religion•Christianity introduced later after Constantine stopped the persecution of Christians and Justinian made it the official religion

Society•Women treated as children; always under the protection of the head of the family (male). Also unable to own land or participate in court•Games were an important part of society. People paid to watch gladiator fights•Patron/client relationship between wealthy landowners and urban peasants

Art/ Architecture•Use of domes, vaults, and arches used in buildings•Sculptures and paintings begin to look more natural•Knitting invented during Roman times

In the World Today: Greece

• Many Greek intellectual advancements are still used today. Greeks made innovations in meteorology, astronomy, and physics that shaped those subjects to their modern forms.

• Later Greek civilizations used the city-state model for their settlements. While popular in the early CE, it is no longer in use. The separate city-states promoted rivalry among people of the same culture, so it fell out of use. City-states were also geographically separated so trade would be difficult.

• Gears, levers, and pulleys are all utilized today. Machines, cars, and other things use levers.

• Advancements in Greek ship building helped the technology of ships evolve into what we know today. Triremes were powered by rowers and square sails to catch the wind. This was one in a long line of boats that furthered the way boats were built and used. The Greeks used these ships to trade, and trade over water still requires ships today.

In the World Today: Rome

• The Roman inventions of cement, roads, bridges, domes and arches are still used today. Cement is used in almost every building or structure on the planet. Roads connect locations to each other; and bridges allow people to cross water without getting wet. There isn’t a capital building in the world that isn’t topped by a dome of some sort.

• The idea of a Senate in the government is part of many countries today. The United States has a Senate in the Congress. Members are elected and have a limited amount of time to prove their worth before they either leave or are re-elected.

• Because of the actions of the Roman emperors Constantine and Justinian, Christianity is one of the largest religions in the world. There are now two types of Christianity: Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox. Western Europe practices Catholicism and Eastern Europe is Eastern Orthodox. The different areas of religion represent where the Western and Eastern Roman Empires ruled.

Classic Greece

Classic Rome

Greece’s Technology

The city set up of the polis allowed for Greek cities to be built in Greece’s mountainous area

The Parthenon is one of Ancient Greece’s greatest known architectures

The Maiden’s Porch is an example of how art became imported into the architecture

Amphitheaters were created in Greece for the use of comedies and plays- all greatly seen in Greek society

Rome’s Technology

Roman Baths Of ValesioStatue portraying the

events that occurred at the Coliseum

Aqueduct system

City forums created a centralization of Roman cities

BibliographyNatalee:•http://tempest.arch.gatech.edu/~italy/courses/arch4127/TimelineRomanHistory.pdf•http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/timeline/time0002.htm•http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/HistoricEvents.htm•http://karenswhimsy.com/maps-of-ancient-greece.shtm•http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/maps-ancient-rome/maps-ancient-rome-2.shtm•http://www.tomnobles.com/Subject_Directory/Research/Ancient_Rome/technology.html

Natalie:•http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/WarTech.htm•http://molivam42.wordpress.com/2010/03/07/ancient-greek-inventions-and-innovations/•http://www.lost-civilizations.net/ancient-rome-history.html•http://www.mariamilani.com/ancient_rome/ancient_roman_inventions.htm•http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0860354.html •http://www.cedarseed.com/water/phoenicians.html •http://www.exclassics.com/martyrdom/martc18.htm •http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001206.html

Catherine:•http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Greeks.htm•http://history-world.org/greece%20economy.htm•http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/romans/technology/•http://archserve.id.ucsb.edu/courses/arthistory/152k/terraces.html•http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=byz

• Natalee- Chronology for given timeframe, maps, charts, and images that visually present innovation and help explain it.

• Catherine-Spread and Impact of element on regions PIRATES, role that the elements plays in today's world.

• Natalie- Analyses that explain the change and comparative nature of the innovations to other like innovations for the region.

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