Ancient Roman Concrete

**Akzle** · 17th June 2013, 07:29

Originally Posted by pzkpfw

Sure, but they all go to the same damned place.

or, away from it.

**BoristheBiter** · 17th June 2013, 08:04

Originally Posted by mashman

sanitation

now if someone could show India.

**oneofsix** · 17th June 2013, 08:14

Ok I have to admit being confused in my ignorance, little knowledge and all that. Portland cement does use lime, lots and lots of lime in its manufacture and yet the article lists lime as a key difference between Roman and portland. Also as the volcanic bit if you consider the rock melting temps the Kilns get to portland must come bloody close to using rock ash = volcanic ash. Perhaps the difference, and thsi is the extreme ignorance bit, is that with portland they burn the lime and mix with gypsum whereas the romans mixed raw lime with volcanic rock ash?

As to what else we lost, according to Discovery we can't make the Bronze as the Spartians used in their armour for the 300. The modern Bronze isn't as strong and would resist Persian arrows as well as the old stuff. Then there is greek fire, the middle ages steel swords that were better the katana and probably a hundred and 1 other things liek how to build a pyramid without aliens.

**Banditbandit** · 17th June 2013, 08:31

Latin .. we've forgotten Latin (thank God ...)

**Hitcher** · 17th June 2013, 08:38

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

Latin .. we've forgotten Latin (thank God ...)

Ane we're also fast forgetting grammar.

**nerrrd** · 17th June 2013, 08:43

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

Latin .. we've forgotten Latin (thank God ...)

Hey some of us haven't! I've got a degree in that, thanks very much (actually I have forgotten most of it.)

As for other things the Romans might have given us:

Institutionalised slavery?

Circus animals!

Life of Brian? ("Romani ite domum" - classic!)

**oneofsix** · 17th June 2013, 08:43

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Ane we're also fast forgetting grammar.

She died many years ago.

No, grammar is changing along with the language and the rules set out by your teacher don't all apply.

**Banditbandit** · 17th June 2013, 08:46

Originally Posted by nerrrd

Hey some of us haven't! I've got a degree in that, thanks very much (actually I have forgotten most of it.)

Faark ... that's a really useful qualificiation !!!!

**oneofsix** · 17th June 2013, 08:52

Originally Posted by nerrrd

Hey some of us haven't! I've got a degree in that, thanks very much (actually I have forgotten most of it.)

As for other things the Romans might have given us:

Institutionalised slavery?

Circus animals!

Life of Brian? ("Romani ite domum" - classic!)

Institutionalised slavery pre-dated the Romans, the Greeks for one had it. Not sure about the circus animals but I think the word Circus was theirs and what would the life of Brian have been without the Romans?

They also gave us a disdain for vandals and barbarians and therefore the modern usage of the words.

**nerrrd** · 17th June 2013, 09:47

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

Faark ... that's a really useful qualificiation !!!!

Made me the man I am today...so not particularly useful, no.

**Akzle** · 17th June 2013, 09:54

Originally Posted by oneofsix

Ok I have to admit being confused in my ignorance, little knowledge and all that. Portland cement does use lime, lots and lots of lime in its manufacture and yet the article lists lime as a key difference between Roman and portland. Also as the volcanic bit if you consider the rock melting temps the Kilns get to portland must come bloody close to using rock ash = volcanic ash. Perhaps the difference, and thsi is the extreme ignorance bit, is that with portland they burn the lime and mix with gypsum whereas the romans mixed raw lime with volcanic rock ash?

As to what else we lost, according to Discovery we can't make the Bronze as the Spartians used in their armour for the 300. The modern Bronze isn't as strong and would resist Persian arrows as well as the old stuff. Then there is greek fire, the middle ages steel swords that were better the katana and probably a hundred and 1 other things liek how to build a pyramid without aliens.

no. A katana will cut through any of the old white swords...

**Paul in NZ** · 17th June 2013, 10:27

Originally Posted by Akzle

no. A katana will cut through any of the old white swords...

No - swords were being made in europe that were equally as good as the Japanese swords... Reinvention of the knightly arts by the victorians (and others) and confusion caused by ceremonial 'bearing swords' is partly to blame....

http://www.swordforum.com/forums/sho...an-Sword-Myths