Roman Inventions

[Eleatic Guest]

Hi everyone, I'm writing a speech for my Public Speaking class on what the Romans invented to give us what we have today. I've actually had a strangely difficult time finding any good, reputable sources. Does anyone know of some sites that give a fairly large list of Roman inventions that are preferably still in use today in some way shape or form?
Any help is greatly appreciated, I'm way behind on this, and not so good at speeches

I can ease your pain. ;-) ) I have two, three excellent articles which are up to date and will really help bail you out. Drop me an email.

Actually, I am making a list of my own for some time, and it is getting longer and longer. Contrary to a widespread belief, the Romans were not only good applicators, but also ingenious inventors.

A couple of notable Roman inventions:
- the book (codex)!
- concrete (only reinvented in the 19th century (Portland cement))
- glass blowing and transparent glass

An immense contribution was the introduction of the arch, vault and dome as construction methods (technically, some forms of arches and vaults were occasionally appplied for much longer in the Orient, but the full potential was only realized by the Romans) churches and mosques.

Also, the exploitation of water power began with the Romans (with a Greek prehistory). This is of utmost importance in ther history of technology, as it constitutes the first use of a power ressource on land other than muscles (the only other being sails on ships).

Rarely known Roman inventions:
- the rotary lock (and also combination lock), that is locks were the keys has to be turned
- arch dams
rudimentary newspaper (acta diurna)
- admiralty type anchors
- apartment block, generally high rising urban houses
- lateen sail
- battens on sails
- autobiography (Augustinus: confessiones)
- segmental arch bridges
- cofferdams
- pivoting bridges (Villa Hadriana)
- amphitheatres
- hippodromes
- boarding bridge
- harpax
- swivel chair
- vallus, a harvesting machine
- coaches
- treadwheel crane
- multi-functional knife
- groin vault
- pendentive dome (Hagia Sophia)
- hot house, small scale
- clock tower (tower of the winds on the Agora of Athens)
- artificial harbour basin (hydraulic concrete)
- stern-mounted rudder (Rhine and Mosel)
- radiant heating = floor and wall hypokaust (later, in Villa Hadriana, even dome heating)
- city map (forma urbis Romae)
- road tunnels
- counterfactual history (Livius on Alexander marching westwards)
- rudimentary Science Fiction ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_History )
- rudimentary ball bearings (Nemi ships)
- tambour
- early shopping mall (Trajan's market, the roofed parts)
- pressure lines (aqueducts)
- screw press
- street lighting (Antiochia, Ephesos main street)

and many others (you get the idea). Go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_technology