Innovations+-+Aqueducts

=**Roman Aqueducts**=

Aqueducts are channels either above ground, below ground or on the ground that transport water from a lake or stream into a city which may be miles away. The word aqueduct comes from the Latin word "aqua"; meaning "water" and "ducere"; meaning to lead.
 * Introduction to the Aqueduct**

The history of Roman aqueducts date all the way back to 312B.C. This invention was made to bring water from lakes and streams into the main land so that towns and farms were allowed to flourish. The Romans built this water carrier so that the people would not die of drought and waste valuable time getting water.
 * History of the Aqueduct**

These aqueducts were made so mathematically precise that people do not think of them as water carriers but works of art. They were measured out extremely fine to make the water flow correctly but aesthetics were secondary; their main purpose to be built was to supply water. These giant works of art sometimes were put on top of each other to gain height because the water traveled by gravity and gravity alone. Segovia Aqueduct.
 * The way they were made**

The Romans built many aqueducts during a period of 500 years starting from 312B.C to 226 A.D. During this time they managed to build 11 aqueducts; the first, Aqua Appia in 312B.C. The last, Aqua Alexandrina; in 226A.D, and the longest Aqua Marcia that was 58 miles long. They used them mainly for drinking water and also sometimes for the irrigation of fields.
 * The Roman Aqueducts**

Roman aqueducts only used gravity while modern aqueducts use pumps.

Now aqueducts are still used in some parts of the world as they were used in the ancient times. Although the materials and the way they build the aqueducts are different, the idea of transferring water from one spot to another is still the same.
 * Aqueducts now**


 * __WORKS CITED__**

"**aqueduct**." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 30 Oct. 2007 "**aqueduct**." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 30 Oct. 2007

Clare, John D. Classical Rome. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1993.

Nardo, Don. The Roman Empire. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1947.

Woods, Robert O. "Finite Elements, Roman-Style." SIRS. Sept. 2005. SIRS Knowledge Source. 31 Oct. 2007 .

Segovia aqueduct." Online Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 7 Nov. 2007 http://britannicaschool.eb.com/ebi/art-17348

Shuter, Jane. "Roman Aqueducts." Rome Architecture. 4 Nov. 2007 .