Abstract
This paper draws from a flagship, cross-disciplinary course open to all university students, developed with support from the Columbia University Provost’s Office and co-taught by faculty from Civil Engineering and Art History and Archaeology. The course provides an interdisciplinary study of ancient Roman engineering and architecture through the perspectives of engineering, archaeology, architecture, and history. Students examine materials and their affordances, labor and power hierarchies, construction standards, the role of failure and error, and the political and aesthetic purposes of public works across the Roman world. Within this broader context, the study focuses on one thematic question that has resonated with students: why modern societies do not build in the manner of the Romans. Roman aqueducts, bridges, and monumental structures appear enduring, but their permanence depended on centralized authority, unified institutions, stable taxation, and a labor system that allowed ambitious infrastructure to proceed with few jurisdictional obstacles. In contrast, infrastructure delivery in the United States reflects fragmented governance, persistent funding shortfalls, and the federal–state divide. The research also considers why such overbuilt permanence is not desirable today given advances in materials science, evolving safety standards, sustainability concerns, and shifting cultural values. Together, these comparisons highlight how infrastructure expresses political priorities as much as engineering capability.
Presenters
Julius ChangSenior Lecturer, Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Columbia University, New York, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
ROMAN ENGINEERING, INFRASTRUCTURE HISTORY, TECHNOLOGY AND GOVERNANCE, POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
