The Nature of Roman Aqueducts

The ancient Romans were impressive engineers. The original water sources near Rome were considered unsafe–fetid swamp water and rivers polluted with human sewage. To supply the increasing population of the economically thriving city, Roman emperors ordered the construction of aqueducts to carry clean mountain water into the city. The first aqueduct was finished in 316 BC, and a total of 11 feeding into the city were built over the next 538 years. The last aqueduct was completed in 226 AD. These aqueducts functioned until 537 AD when the Ostrogoths destroyed most of them as they laid siege to the city. After this, the population greatly declined and remained low for centuries. Romans built aqueducts all over their empire including in France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and even Britain. Most have fallen into disrepair, but even after 2000 years, some are still in use. Map of aqueducts that supplied Rome with water for centuries until about 1500 years ago. The visible structures of aqueducts…