The Romans were master builders. They invented the dome and greatly expanded the use of the arch. They also invented concrete, a mixture of broken stones, lime, sand, volcanic ash, and water.
Roman emperors built vast temples, huge stadiums, and other amazing public buildings. It was a way to remind the Roman people of their wealth and power. Rome’s first emperor was Augustus. He boasted, “I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble.” The work of Rome’s builders still stands today in parts of its once great empire. It’s a lasting tribute to their building genius.
