how did the roman empire view technology?

Answer 1

The romans were extremely advanced when it came to building and engineering. They also invented the sun dial, the first watch to tell time. Thus XII on watches.

Answer 2

~They viewed Greek roads, Persian aqueducts and Egyptian architecture with great admiration and envy. That's why they copied them. They learned a good deal from the Babylonians, Persians and Greeks about military technology, too. You can tell from the copies of weapons, tactics and troop compositions and formations that they borrowed. Luckily, the Goths, Visigoths, Vandals, Gauls and other Teutonic tribes came along, crushed Rome (another Teutonic Empire) into the ground and revived the technological progress that had be arrested by the likes of Nero and Caligula and their ilk. Thus was born western Civilization as we know it.

Answer 3

Considering that the Romans had aqueducts and plumbing,and that they built roads over long distances, I would think they had a positive attitude toward technology.

Answer 4

Aqueducts, sewers, mills, & road building. All of them heartily endorsed by the Romans through public works projects

Answer 5

2

Answer 6

1

Answer 7

The Roman's attitude to technology was a two edged sword. Tactically they favoured technology to a degree not previously seen in the ancient world. Strategically they were like a bunch of ignorant savages. You see, technology where it served their society and social structure at any one particular time they embrased. Techology that was percieved to be a threat to the social structure was quietly ignored and put out of the way.

One just has to look at the way the empire looked to see the magnificant technology they had for their time. The archetecture was unbelievable for the ancient world. Their city looked more like an ancient version of a modern city rather than an ancient one. Their Coloseuim was 80 feet high, 600 feet wide(average-it was almost oval shaped), had an underground complex, shops, recreational areas, a vast arrary of cranes, lifts and other operational technology, an adjustable roof, organised tiers of seating corrosponding to 82 entrances and could be filled with water for a naval fight. It was so organised that wilst a modern stadium's evacuation in an emergency would take the best part of half an hour, the Coloseium's, in ordinary time even, would take literally - 200 seconds. That's right-200 seconds. The city had a 2,000 foot long chariot raceway known as the Circus Maximus, a city wide underground sewage system known as the Cloaca Maximus(very few cities before the mid 19th century had any sewage system), a large aqeduct system(for carrying water) known as the Claudian Aqueduct, tens of thousands of flats(Contiburnums), thousands of great homes(Domus's), a vast array of medical centres, hospitals, temples, barracks, take away food shops, shops, markets, offices, other buildings and the great palace of the emperors on the Palatine hill. Rome also had a network of streets and roads as well as those(such as the Appian Way) which stretched hundreds of miles to other cities. The great temple of Jupiter on the Capitaline hill was ten times the size of the capital building of the United States in Washington.

Throughout their empire they had an organised and logical system of roads that was not really equalled until the coming of the United States highway system in the mid twentieth century. The Via Egnatia stretched hundreds of miles from Italy right to Byzantium(Constantinopal
The Romans were also great inovators of technology. They invented concrete, cement(made from lime) , a huge form of Gastopedes( a Raspioballista) which shot a six foot bolt from it-not seen before in the ancient world and unique to the Romans, the codex(modern form of book) (latter empire), the Greek Fire(which burnt on water)(latter empire) and most of the civil services we have today-roadbuilding maintances permanent gangs, garbabe collections, fire brigade and building maintanance. So tactically they were fine with technology.

However strategically, they were atrocious. They did not want to develope anything that would upset the prevailing social order. Vespesian brought so many patents and put them in quiet places on the shelves. In one instance an inventor invented a machine that could mechanically move huge stones up big hills. This would free the need of so much slave labour. Vespasian saw it , realised the social implications it could bring, bought the thing and made sure it never saw the light of day again. Other emperors did the same. For although the Romans embrase any technology which could benifit their social order and power(they were great learners of such) anything which was a percieved danger was a big no no. They were far too conservative to formulate of get technology that being beyond a certain limit would actually really mechinise things and bring down the social order. Whilst we admire some parts of their steady, moral, ethical and practical conservatism, other parts of it(the stubborness and ignorance) we do not. Whilst their acceptance of technology to a certain degree built their empire, the intolerance of technology which had the potential to change society sealed their doom.

For the Romans, technology was a double edged sword. They had built up their city, their military, their system and their empire with it. However, beyond a certain point-the point where society begins to really change(the structure thereupon), their attitude was less admirable. It was this inate conservatism, this stick in the mud attitude that had them towards the end of their empire, in a state of mental stagnation. The fall of the Roman empire had many many causes. But one is really never mentioned. That there two competing systems at the time. One was the old conservative, stale and debilitating system of the empire-the other, the new, fresh, exciting and free system of the barbarians. And history knows which, the people of the time chose. One of the most potent reasons for the fall of the Roman empire- that people were tired of the old world, they wanted someting fresh and invigorating-they wanted a fresh breath of air- a fresh wind. After all, after all those centuries, this is what excited people-the empire no longer did. However, one wonders how the Romans would have recieved the invention say of the cannon. A devise that could make walled cities obsolete. A devise, developed , which could crumble the walls of Rome itself. Well, they did embrace the Greek Fire at the end of the empire. It was too late to save it but it shows that as far as things military-the Romans broke their usual conservatism. So like their two headed god- Janus, their attitude towards technology was also two faced. It's a pity. For it is this two faced, Janustic, attitude that is the one thing in practical terms that we have over them today. And it is the one thing why Rome is referred to as ANCIENT Rome. A great pity indeed. For where they could have gone with the attitude of techology that we have today. Hope this helps.

Answer 8

By squinting, pointing, and saying "There's technology".

Answer 9

Loved flat screen monitors :)