The Romans: Their Legacy, Our T-Shirts

The What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us? T-shirt is a popular item of clothing that references the famous comedy sketch by Monty Python. The full sketch, featured in the 1979 film Life of Brian, is in the style of a song and poses the question: What have the Romans ever done for us?. The song then lists a number of things that the Romans did for us, including sanitation, roads, public baths, peace, and more. The T-shirt, released on March 8, 2024, features a print on the front, back, and inside neck and is made from super soft, high-quality fabric. It has become a staple for fans of Monty Python and British comedy.

Roads, wine, and canals

Roads

Roman roads were physical infrastructure that was vital to the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Empire. They provided an efficient means of overland movement for armies, officials, civilians, and trade goods. At the peak of Rome's development, 29 great military highways radiated from the capital, and the empire's 113 provinces were interconnected by 372 great roads. The whole network comprised more than 400,000 kilometres of roads, of which over 80,500 kilometres were stone-paved.

Roman roads were built to last and constructed to need as little repair as possible. They were built from several kinds of materials, ranging from simple corduroy roads to paved roads using deep roadbeds of tamped rubble as an underlying layer to ensure they kept dry. The roads were laid along accurately surveyed courses, and some were cut through hills or conducted over rivers and ravines on bridgework.

Wine

The Roman belief that wine was a daily necessity made the drink available to all classes, from slaves to aristocrats, men, and women. Wine was almost always diluted with water before drinking, except for the elderly, libations to the gods, and alcoholics. Wine was also used for medicinal purposes, with Cato writing extensively on its medical uses.

The rise of the Roman Empire saw technological advances in and a burgeoning awareness of winemaking, which spread to all parts of the empire. Roman writers such as Cato, Columella, Horace, Catullus, Palladius, Pliny, Varro, and Virgil, have provided insight into the role played by wine in Roman culture, as well as contemporary understanding of winemaking and viticultural practices. Many of the techniques and principles first developed in ancient Roman times can be found in modern winemaking.

Canals

Roman canals were typically multi-purpose structures, intended for irrigation, drainage, land reclamation, flood control, and navigation where feasible. They were used to supply water to cities and for military purposes, such as the quick deployment of troops.

Roman canals were built across the empire, from Italy to Mauretania Tingitana, and from Gaul to Egypt. One of the most notable Roman canals was the Ancient Suez Canal, which linked the Mediterranean and Red Sea via the Nile.

Public health

The Romans recognised the importance of public health and hygiene as their towns expanded into large cities. They implemented measures to ensure cleanliness and sanitation, including regulating public granaries, establishing public latrines, and providing plumbed sanitation and reliable water sources. The Romans valued the preventive health approaches endorsed by Greek culture, which included proper exercise, diet, and the use of spa-type public baths.

They had three types of baths: baths at home, private baths, and public baths run by the state. The public baths, or thermae, became huge edifices capable of accommodating thousands of people. The inhabitants of Rome used an impressive 1,400 litres of water per person per day, mainly for bathing. The Romans also constructed aqueducts to ensure a steady supply of water to their cities, with one such aqueduct still largely intact in Dorchester, UK.

In addition to their bathing culture, the Romans also adopted Greek medical practices and theories. They referenced the work of Greek doctors and philosophers, such as Hippocrates and Aristotle, and incorporated certain religious beliefs. Roman medicine was heavily influenced by West Asian and African medicine, as many of the great doctors of the Roman Empire lived in those regions. These doctors built upon earlier medical research from Egypt, India, and Greece.

One notable Roman doctor was Aelius Galenus (Galen), who began his career treating peasants and performing surgery on gladiators. He believed in the theory of opposites in curing ailments, such as giving hot pepper to someone with a cold or using cucumber to treat a fever. The Romans also employed herbal remedies, with garlic considered a cure-all herb, and incorporated wine into their medicine. They established hospitals, initially for military purposes, which later developed into civic hospitals serving the general public.

Sanitation and irrigation

The Romans were pioneers in the field of sanitation, developing advanced systems for managing waste and improving public health. They constructed sophisticated sewers and drainage systems, including underground channels and pipes that carried waste away from populated areas. These innovations helped to reduce the spread of diseases and improved the overall cleanliness of Roman cities.

In addition to their advancements in sanitation, the Romans also made significant contributions to irrigation techniques. They developed complex systems of aqueducts and canals to transport water from distant sources to cities and farms. These innovations ensured a reliable water supply for drinking, bathing, and agriculture, even in areas that were far from natural water sources.

The Romans' understanding of the importance of sanitation and irrigation extended beyond practical applications. They recognized the connection between sanitation and public health, realizing that improving sanitation could reduce the incidence of diseases and promote overall well-being. This holistic view of sanitation and its impact on society was ahead of its time and has had a lasting influence on public health policies and practices.

Furthermore, the Romans' expertise in irrigation extended beyond simply transporting water. They also developed advanced techniques for distributing water efficiently and effectively. They constructed intricate networks of pipes, channels, and irrigation ditches that allowed them to control and direct the flow of water with precision. These innovations increased agricultural productivity and helped to support the growing population of the Roman Empire.

The Romans' contributions to sanitation and irrigation were not just practical innovations but also reflected their understanding of the importance of sustainability and land management. They recognized the finite nature of resources and the impact of human activities on the environment. By implementing sustainable practices, such as soil regeneration and crop diversification, they sought to preserve and enhance the productivity of their agricultural lands.

Roman law and education

The Roman legal system, which lasted over a thousand years, is the basis of civil law, the most widely used legal system today. The terms are often used interchangeably. The influence of Roman law is reflected in the continued use of Latin legal terminology in many legal systems, including common law.

Roman law was rooted in the Etruscan religion, emphasising ritual. The first legal text was the Law of the Twelve Tables, which dates back to the mid-fifth century BC. The plebeian tribune, C. Terentilius Arsa, proposed that the law should be written down to prevent magistrates from applying it arbitrarily. The new Law of the Twelve Tables was approved by the people's assembly.

Roman education took on mostly Greek forms, but formal legal education is considered Rome's great innovation in pedagogy. Basic literacy was expected of upper-class women, and while some became quite learned, they were largely excluded from advanced education and courtroom activities by custom and rule.

Rome's most significant contribution to European legal culture was the emergence of a class of professional jurists and a legal science. This was achieved by applying the scientific methods of Greek philosophy to the subject of law, which the Greeks never treated as a science. Gnaeus Flavius is said to have published the formularies that had to be spoken in court to begin a legal action around 300 BC. Before this, the formularies were secret and known only to priests.

The literary and practical achievements of the jurists of the classical period gave Roman law its unique shape. They advised the magistrates who were entrusted with the administration of justice, most importantly the praetors, and helped them draft their edicts. Some jurists also held high judicial and administrative offices themselves.

Public baths and safety

Public baths were an integral part of daily life in ancient Rome, and they played a major role in Roman culture and society. They were viewed as fundamental to Roman civilisation and a symbol of Roman superiority over the rest of the world. Romans considered the baths as proof of their cleanliness and, therefore, their advancement over other civilisations.

The baths were communal and frequented by all classes of Roman society. They were some of the most important public buildings in the empire and were constructed soon after the Romans conquered a new area. The baths were a place where Romans could mingle, gossip, and relax. They were also a social arena where citizens could meet those of a higher social status and try to further their social standing.

The baths were usually located near the forum and were open from lunchtime until dusk. The entrance fee was affordable for most free Roman males, and on public holidays, the baths were free to enter. The bath complexes (balnea or thermae) included a wide variety of rooms with different temperatures, as well as swimming pools, exercise rooms, and places to read, relax, and socialise. The typical features of a Roman bath were:

• Apodyterium: Changing rooms where people stored their clothes, often watched over by a servant or slave.
• Palaestrae: Exercise rooms or gymnasiums where people could oil their bodies before bathing.
• Natatio: Open-air swimming pool.
• Laconica and sudatoria: Superheated dry and wet sweating rooms.
• Calidarium: Hot room, heated with a hot-water pool and a separate basin.
• Tepidarium: Warm room, indirectly heated with a tepid pool.
• Frigidarium: Cool room, often monumental in size and domed, with a cold bath.
• Rooms for massage and other health treatments.

Additional facilities included cold-water plunge pools, private baths, toilets, libraries, lecture halls, fountains, and outdoor gardens. The baths were built using millions of fireproof terracotta bricks, with fine mosaic floors, marble-covered walls, and decorative statues. The heating system used under-floor hypocaust heating fuelled by wood-burning furnaces. The vast amount of water needed for the larger baths was supplied by purpose-built aqueducts.

The Romans also constructed baths in their colonies, taking advantage of natural hot springs in North Africa and Europe. These baths became centres for recreational and social activities, with libraries, lecture halls, gymnasiums, and formal gardens. The Romans used the hot thermal waters to relieve rheumatism, arthritis, and overindulgence in food and drink.

The public baths were important drivers of architectural innovation, especially in the use of domes. They influenced later European and American bathing facilities, with formal garden spaces and opulent architectural arrangements.

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