Ramage, Ancient Rome Chapter 3

Industry, Agriculture and Communications

1.       What tangible signs of Roman skill in administration and engineering survive today? How did Roman success in these areas contribute to the quality of life in the Roman Empire?

2.       What was the primary reason why Romans began their road system? How do Roman roads differ from those of their predecessors like the Persians and Greeks?

3.       Use the streets of Pompeii to discuss the main features of urban streets in ancient Rome.

4.       What are miliaria and why are they important?

5.       How did the Roman satirist Juvenal describe the city streets of Rome? How were country roads different?

6.       What is the Peutinger Table and why is it important?

7.       What materials and methods were used for  channeling water in the Roman Empire?

8.       What was the main purpose of Roman aqueducts? What other purposes did they serve?

9.       Who is Frontinus and why is he important in the study of aqueducts?

10.   What architectural feature was used in the construction of both Roman aqueducts and roads? How did the Romans construct this architectural feature?

11.   Give significant features of the Roman port at Caesarea Maritima and at Ostia.

12.   What can we learn about Roman trade from the floor mosaics in Ostia?

13.   What kinds of mines were especially important to the Romans? How was the water wheel important to this industry? Who were the miners and what was their life like?

14.   What is Archimedes’ screw and how is it important to irrigation?

15.   Describe the Roman’s double-action water pump.