The invention and advancement of concrete shaped the world to what it is today. Without concrete nothing today would be possible and it is the most facilitated invention in Earth’s history. The Roman’s developed cement that produced structures of remarkable durability. Most government buildings in America are based on the building styles of Rome.
Concrete made transportation a possibility and reshaped the world to what it is today. Usually when there is a need for a solution, someone invents the fix. The Roman’s had many issues and many needs for concrete. Some issues were water purification, transportation, and trade.

In Roman time, there was no water purification or storage to distribute from house to house. The Roman’s needed a structure that could transports, filter, and store fresh water. “Just like they conquered other people, they would conquer nature with their engineering. In the end, for this city of a million people, they had 11 aqueducts, 11 channels of over 300 miles, delivering perhaps 150 to 200 gallons per person per day, an amazing amount for the ancient world.”. Before the introduction of aqueducts, water was transported on dirt roads by horse and carriage. People would wait and wait for water and some would die because of the delay. Concrete made a water supply readily available to the roman’s and is the basis for water storage in today’s times. (Herring, Benjamin)

Trade and commerce is necessary to gather resources that one country could not produce. For example, Rome could not produce certain fruits and vegetables because of a different climate. With the introduction to a stable concrete road, transportation was easier and safer for trade. “At the beginning of the century, the supply of good roads was nowhere near the growing demand. Most roads at the time were little more than improved wagon trails. In fact, many of the major "highways" were actually vestige of old trails, such as the Oregon Trail or Santa Fe Trail.” The Roman’s concrete made American trade and transportation what it is today. The Roman’s did not use concrete the way American did, they used a mix of cobblestone and other rocks. The Americans took the advancement of concrete to a whole new level. Without the modernization of concrete by the Roman’s, automobiles would not be able to transport and commute trade at the pace and rate that it is today. (Cooper, Casey)

There are many reasons to explain why the Roman’s invention of concrete shaped the world today and why it is the best choice of all. Concrete is durable, easy to manufacture, and cheap to maintain and produce. Dirt roads of the time were unsafe and were washed away by rains. The Roman’s and other countries needed something that would last and shape the roads of the world. According to the ACPA, “Concrete is the best pavement choice today because best long term value, concrete is safer, and outlasts flexible materials.” The invention by the Roman’s is the most significant factor to life today because we will never know how much different our world would be today if transportation was slower and water was not purified sooner. (ACPA)

Many historians may wonder why it took so long for concrete to be revolutionized and why the Roman’s? “ The Assyrians and Babylonians used clay for this purpose, and the Egyptians advanced to the discovery of lime and gypsum mortar as a binding agent for building such structures as the Pyramids. The Greeks made further improvements and finally the Romans developed a cement that produced structures of remarkable durability.” The Roman’s cannot take full responsibility for the invention of concrete but, they are the one’s who took the mixture to its maximum potential of the time period. If the Roman’s could not perfect the mixture, then who knows if any other would ever get it right. The Roman’s constructed the Coliseum to host battles and entertainment for their people. The Roman’s believed in protecting their people and giving them a sense of fulfillment. Without their knowledge, none of the world’s history would be complete. ( Buckley, Jim)

Concrete was essential to the time for the Roman’s at war and made fortification seem flawless. Generals of the time ordered servants to build concrete fortification and to build roads suitable for Roman travel. “The aqueducts, I knew, were just one example of Roman concrete. In World War II, U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton, a celebrated mystic who believed himself to be a reincarnated ancient warrior, took great satisfaction in directing the Seventh and later the Third army over bridges used by Julius Caesar, Sulla, Pompey, and other Roman commanders.”
The use of bridges for military was sound useful that American generals had to see them for themselves to use in their own battles. D-day is a perfect example of the use of concrete in war fortification. (Herring, Benjamin)

Inventions throughout history are seen everywhere and used everyday. Some examples include gunpowder, electricity, and fire. Without proper housing, water storage, and transportation routes, none of the other inventions could last or survive the world. People need water and ways to move around to trade and make a living. The use of concrete is seen everywhere, from buildings, statues, and roads. One can say that concrete is an art in itself because of the dynamic limits and works it has been introduced to. Concrete is an important factor to the humanities because it was the building stone to a new world. People could transport to one another faster and both safer. Health and security were improved because of improved water systems and sustainability.

Roman civilization has influenced America in many ways. From government to architecture, the Roman style remains forever. American architectures were influenced by Roman styles of building that most of out government buildings today resemble their same style. It’s strange to believe that the simple invention of a mixture can both shape the world and keep it moving. Washington D.C. reflects Roman style of building and represents how concrete can be viewed as an art and not just as a mixture. Of course we do not need buildings of unique style to survive today but, the art itself means something to the people and makes the citizens stand for something.

The Romans have developed and advanced the mixture of concrete into something that has shaped the world to what is today. Some of the major benefits are transportation, building development, and cost effective storage. Concrete has been used in war as well as in water filtration and processing. The importance and benefits of such a great invention are limitless. Without the Roman’s knowledge and engineering, American and the rest of the world would not be possible. Without proper housing, water storage, and transportation routes, none of the other inventions could last or survive the world. The Roman’s concrete made American trade and transportation what it is today. The knowledge of the Roman’s helped shape the world and made all life sustainable today. We will never know what life would be like if the Roma’s had not created water filtration and trade routes for commerce and medicine to be delivered and explored.

Annotated Bibliography

ACPA (01/30/12). Mid-Atlantic Chapter. Reasons To Use Concrete. Retrieved on May 10 from http://www.midatlantic.pavement.com/Reasons.htm

This web page explains the reasons why concrete is the best choice for a foundation and the importance of the mixture. The company ACPA discusses why concrete is needed and the consequences of using a weaker material.

Cooper Casey. ( 1996) History of the US Highway System. From Dirt Paths to Superhighways. Retrieved on May 10 from http://gbcnet.com/ushighways/history/

This article explains how the invention and use of concrete impacted transportation and trade throughout the United States. The author explains how the roads improved from dirt to concrete and the need for such a great invention by the Romans.

Buckley Jim (n.d.) Traditional Mortars. A History of Cement. . Retrieved on May 10, 2012 from http://www.rumford.com/articlemortar.html

This article describes the history, development, and need of concrete. The author provides the Roman roots of the need and invention of concrete as well as the possibilities of building more advanced buildings with the use of concrete.

Herring Benjamin (September 2002) Constructor. THE SECRETS OF ROMAN CONCRETE. Retrieved on May 10 from http://www.romanconcrete.com/ Article1Secrets.pdf

This article describes the different uses of concrete during the Roman era such as in war, structures, and contractor fraud. The author expresses why the Romans needed such an invention as concrete and how they were able to do it while others could not fire it out.