Download Activity 1: Roman Aqueducts: Construction and Use.

RD Milns Antiquities Museum Education Program - Teaching Resources
Module Title: Rome – Technology Activity 1
Year Level: Year 7 / Years
11/12
Activity Title:
The development, construction, and use of
aqueducts in ancient Rome.
Objectives:
 To educate students through the use of material culture and ancient sources on the development of water systems within the
Roman Republic and Imperial periods.
 To gain an understanding of an urbanized population’s technological needs.
Outcomes:
 From this workshop students will gain an understanding of ancient construction methods and the influence of urbanization. They
will be able to draw parallels between modern and ancient tools and water systems.
Queensland/Australian Curriculum Links:
Year 7:
ACDSEH038: Roles of key groups in ancient Roman society (such as patricians, plebeians, women, slaves)
ACDSEH004: The physical features of ancient Rome (such as the River Tiber) and how they influenced the civilization that developed
there.
ACDSEH029: The range of sources that can be used in an historical investigation, including archaeological and written sources
ACHHS205: Sequence historical events, developments and periods
ACHHS206: Use historical terms and concepts
ACHHS209: Identify the origin and purposes of primary and secondary sources
ACHHS210: Locate, compare, select and use information from a range of sources as evidence
Senior:
This workshop incorporates elements from three general objectives: planning and using an historical research process; forming historical
knowledge through critical inquiry; and, communicating historical knowledge.
Themes Addressed:
Theme 1: Studies of archaeology
Theme 4: Studies of the everyday lives of people in ancient societies
Theme 10: Studies of Technologies, innovations and inventions
Key Terms:
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Aqua Appia: An aqueduct commissioned in 312 BC by Appius Claudius Caecus, who was censor at the time. This was the first major aqueduct
constructed to bring water to Rome. It flowed for 16.4 kilometres.
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Aqua Julia: A Roman aqueduct built by Roman statesman and general Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 33 BC. It was repaired and expanded by
Emperor Augustus from 11-4 BC. It was approximately 20 kilometres long.
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Aqua Marcia: The first important aqueduct at Rome, constructed in 144 BC. Its source was located in the Anio Valley, 91 kilometres north east
of Rome, making it one of the largest Roman aqueducts. It was paid for by the spoils from the conquest of Corinth, the destruction of Carthage,
and the end of the Third Punic War, all in 146 BC.
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Aqua Traiana: A first century AD Roman aqueduct built by the Emperor Trajan, which was later rebuilt and named the Aqua Paola. It is 40
th
kilometres long, and channels water from Lake Bracciano to Rome. It fell into disuse in the 17 century.
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Aqueducts: System of hydraulic engineering. The first important aqueduct at Rome was the Aqua Marcia, constructed in 144 BC. Most
aqueducts provided some water for irrigation. By the imperial period, aqueducts became a widespread status symbol.
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Augustus: The first emperor of Rome and adopted son of Julius Caesar, who set up the institutional and ideological framework for the Imperial
system of the first three centuries AD.
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Bath Houses: Public spaces consisting of a tepidarium (heated room), sudatorium (sweat room), frigidarium (cool pool), and open spaces used
for exercise. Business and teachings were occasionally conducted in these open spaces.
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Conduit: An artificial channel or pipe for the conveyance of water or other liquids.
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Capitoline Hill: The smallest of the Seven Hills of Rome, an isolated mass with two peaks, conventionally known as Capitoline Proper and Arx.
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Censor: An officer who was responsible for maintaining the census (a register of every male citizen in Rome), supervising public morality, and
overseeing certain aspects of the government’s finances.
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Censor Appius Claudius Caecus: A Roman politician who lived from 340 BC – 273 BC. He was censor in 312 BC, who did not follow the usual
procedure of serving as consul first. He sought support from the lower classes, allowing sons of freedmen to serve in the senate, and extended
voting privileges to men who did not own land. During his term as censor he built the Appian Way (Via Appia), an important trade road between
Rome and Capua. He also built the Aqua Appia, the first aqueduct in Rome. Later, he served as consul twice in 307 BC and 296 BC, and in 285
BC was appointed dictator. He is also credited with the earliest known manuscript of a political speech in Latin.
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Forum Boarium: An area of Rome named after the city’s cattle market, which was bordered by the Capitoline, Palatine, and Aventine hills, and
adjacent to the Tiber Island.
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Latrines: A privy, especially in a camp, barracks, hospital, or similar place.
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Lake Bracciano: A lake on the east side of the Via Clodia, 32 kilometres northwest of Rome. It was created by intense volcanic activity in the
area and is the second largest lake in the region, after Lake Bolsena. It has a circular perimeter of 32 kilometres.
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Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa: A Roman statesman and general who lived from 64–12 BC. Friend and general of Octavian (later Emperor Caesar
Augustus). He was responsible for many of Octavian’s military victories, as well as winning the naval battle of Actium against Mark Anthony and
Cleopatra in 31 BC. He was also the father-in-law of the Emperor Tiberius, maternal grandfather of the Emperor Caligula, and maternal greatgrandfather of the Emperor Nero.
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Ostrogoths: One group of Goths, Germanic people thought to have originated from Scandinavia, who came into prominence after the third
century BC. They made constant incursions against the provinces of Rome until the invasion of the Huns in AD 375. In AD 474, King Theodoric
the Great, backed by the Byzantine Empire, led a successful invasion campaign into Italy to take Rome back from the Germanic King Odoacer
of Italy.
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Rome: The origins of the city of Rome are based entirely on legend. From humble origins (a few small villages established on a hill), Rome
became arguably the most important city in the ancient world. Over the centuries it transformed itself many times.
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Republic: The system by which Rome was governed prior to the rule of the emperors. The Republic dates from the end of the reign of the last
king of Rome in 510 BC to Augustus’ rise to prominence after the death of Marc Antony in 30 BC. The key governing body within the Republic
was the senate, within which policies were decided upon. The highest offices in politics, religion, and the military within the Republic were
usually occupied by nobles, especially the highly sought after consulship.
Recommended Resources:
RD Milns Antiquities Museum Online Collection Database: http://www.uq.edu.au/antiquities/collection/catalogue.
Perseus Digital Library (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/ ): Excellent collection of searchable online sources.
Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World (http://press.princeton.edu/titles/6773.html ): Comprehensive ancient atlas published by Princeton
University press. iPad version available.
Google Art Project (http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/project/art-project): Online collaboration of museums.
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=04&region=eusb): Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art’s online timeline.
Museum of London, Digging Up the Romans (http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Resources/learning/digging/town_life/i2.html): Archeological
investigations in London.
Ancient Sources:
Vitruvius, De Architectura (On Architecture)
Books 8-10 (Aqueducts and Roman Technology)
Pliny the Elder, Natural Histories
Book 18 (Watermills and wheels)