Infrastructure Romanization of Hispania

1 infrastructure

1.1 roman streets , roads
1.2 bridges
1.3 aqueducts

infrastructure

either within or outside urban environment, these facilities became vital function of city , economy, allowing supply essential necessities; either water via aqueducts or food, supplies , goods through efficient network of roads. in addition, city of @ least average importance had sewer system drainage of waste water , prevent rain flooding streets.

roman streets , roads

infrastructure civilian use built intensity romans in hispania, roman roads ran through peninsula joining cadiz pyrenees , asturias murcia: covering coastal mediterranean , atlantic through established routes. along them booming trade flowed, encouraging political stability of territory on several centuries.

among these roads, important were:

vía lata, known vía de la plata; or silver way
via augusta, longest imperial roman road in spain. 1500km in length , comprising multiple sections
vía exterior




main arterial roads of roman hispania.

to signal distance along these routes milestones placed, either columns or significant stones, , marked distance point of origin measured thousands of steps (miles).

currently of these routes correspond layout of present day roads or highways in states of spain , portugal, confirms renewed logic of roman optimal choice roads.

bridges

roman bridges, essential complement roads, allowed them overcome obstacle posed rivers, in case of iberian peninsula can wide. rome, faced geographical challenge, responded of durable , reliable constructions. rome built large number of wooden bridges on minor crossings, today surviving references made of stone.

roman bridge @ cordoba

the typical roman bridge consisted of platform supported arches, semicircles or segments of circles. there cases of bridges on full circles. pillars in water include wedge-shaped structures called abutments redirect flow of water, create pier on bridge sits.

model of construction of roman abutment

this successful model construction model lasted until late middle ages, , today difficult know in cases if bridges roman or if built later original design.

aqueducts

an important town needed constant water supply thousands of people gathered in 1 place several miles away natural water source. achieve continuous flow of water romans built aqueducts.

aqüeducte de les ferreres located on outskirts of roman town tarraco.

the roman aqueducts, despite appearances, built underground. however, known monumental aqueducts built bridge geographic barriers in order give continuous water channel. slenderness of type of construction, along tremendous height reached of them, makes them beautiful works of civil engineering of time, taking account difficulties overcome build them.

for construction of aqueduct, first needed source of water, channeling natural flow through construction of canal, , allowing slope carry water through channel artificial lake (in cases large stone reservoir structure). ensured constant supply of water throughout year.

diagram of water trap

from point, water transported canals, whether of stone, or pipes of ceramic or lead. latter solution bring health problems such lead poisoning, problem extend present day in places type of water management has been used in abundance. lead piping more easy work, used more in urban distribution network due high price, aqueduct traps.

model of aqueduct of segovia

the artificial reservoir water transported through underground channel town, taking advantage of natural slopes, romans built traps, allowed them avoid downward slope without building famous bridges keeping pressure flow. these traps take advantage of pressure resulting falling water raise other side, keeping pressure @ expense of losing of flow. application of principle of communicating vessels.

current aqueducts notable condition include first aqueduct of segovia, famous roman construction of iberian peninsula, followed aqueduct in tarragona or devil s bridge, , remains of aqueduct of merida, known miraculous aqueduct.