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The Romans only adopted the Greek orders (styles) for making columns (Doric, Ionian and Corinthian) and modelled their temples on the Greek ones. For the rest, they went beyond Greek architecture.The Romans added new and more advanced techniques to the field of architecture that were not found in ancient Greek architecture.

The Romans effected what historians call the Roman architectural revolution or concrete revolution. This involved the extensive use of concrete, the barrel (simple) arch and the vaulted arch. These three elements enabled the Romans to go beyond Greek methods of construction which used cut-stone and post-and-beam or post-and-lintel structures.

The Romans developed a type of concrete (opus caementicium) which was as resistant as modern concrete and also set underwater (and therefore could also be used to build docks for ports, dams, aqueducts and bridges). It was less fluid than modern concrete and had to be layered by hand. It was made by mixing a volcanic rock called pozzolana (which is named after Pozzuoli, a suburb of Naples) with lime as a binder and the addition of rubble from stones, bricks or pottery shreds as aggregates which added body to it. Concrete had technical and practical advantages. It was exceptionally strong and could span great distances when shaped into arches, vaults and domes as it could be moulded. It was layered into a formwork and it took the shape of its container. It did not require skilled labour and therefore was cheaper. It was much faster for construction than laborious masonry walls. It was safer because concrete vaulted roofing was fireproof, unlike the wooden-beamed roofs of traditional construction post-and-lintel methods.

The potential of the previously little used arch and vault, was fully exploited for the first time. The Romans were the first to fully appreciate the advantage of these structures. The (simple, barrel) arch has a strong load- bearing capacity. The vault (vaulted arch) has an even greater load-bearing capacity and its structure is suited to support large roofs. Their construction in concrete made them easier to build and even stronger. This led to the use larger and monumental arches and vaults on a grand scale. However, the Romans did not abandon masonry arches and vaults. The vaulted arch came into two forms: the groin arch is formed by two to four intersecting barrel (simple) arches and the rib arch, where the intersecting arches were not of the same diameter; the ribbed arch has intersected arches of different diameter.

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Q: How did the Romans improve on greek ideas in architecture?
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Continue Learning about Ancient History

What would be one consequence of ideas exchanged between Ancient Greece and Rome?

One consequence of ideas exchanged between ancient Greece and Rome is that the Romans would copy Greek's art and architecture


How did the Greek culture influence the development of the Roman civilization?

Romans absorbed ideas from them, and because of it, made great advances in law, literature, engineering, art, architecture, technology, science, along with many other areas.


How did the Romans build on the legal ideas of the ancient Greeks?

the greek influence was only in philosophy and art


What were the origins of Greco-Roman culture?

The Greco-Roman came about as a result of embracing the Greeks and the Romans as their masters and therefore adapting some of their cultures and practices. After a long period of coexistence, the regions that were under the governments of Greek and Roman empires embraced their practices and culture, forming a hybrid of Greek-Roman culture.


What ideas did Romans borrow from the Greeks?

The Romans adopted and adapted the western Greek alphabet. They adopted some of the Greek gods (Apollo, Asclepius, Castor and Pollux and Cybele, whom they called Magna Mater) and linked their gods to the Greek ones. Their scientific ideas came from the Greeks. They adopted Greek medicine. They adopted Greek sports. Their literature was based on the Greek tragedies and comedies. Their elite men studied the two main Greek school of philosophy of the time: stoicism and Epicureanism. From the late 1st century BC they adopted Greek sculpture The adopted the Greek orders (styles) to make columns (Doric, Ionic and Corinthian) and modelled their temples on the Greek ones. However, for the rest, Roman architecture went way beyond the techniques of the Greeks. The Romans effected what historians have called the Roman architectural revolution.

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What would be one consequence of ideas exchanged between Ancient Greece and Rome?

One consequence of ideas exchanged between ancient Greece and Rome is that the Romans would copy Greek's art and architecture


What greek ideas did the Romans ignore?

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How did the Greek culture influence the development of the Roman civilization?

Romans absorbed ideas from them, and because of it, made great advances in law, literature, engineering, art, architecture, technology, science, along with many other areas.


The Renaissance was a rebirth of the ideas of which ancient civilization?

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What ideas did the Greeks express in their art and architecture?

the greek art and architecture expressed greek ideas of beauty and harmony.


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Why did the Roman's take the Greek's architesuer?

The Romans borrowed (well, maybe took) a lot of ideas from the Greeks. This was because the Greeks were very successful and their ideas and traditions appealed to the Roman people. The Romans took a lot Greek architecture because it was some of the most well engineered and sophisticated in those times. Remember, the Greeks were a lasting civilization and some argue that Rome is almost like the successors to the Greeks. All those Greek styles of architecture were tweaked Roman style to fit their own needs. Basically, why would the Romans want to create a totally new style of architecture when the Greeks have something that is pretty good already? Even the ancients new this: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the architecture wasn't bad, there was not a need to make another one. Ali Maredia


Why do you the Romans borrowed many ideas from Greek culture?

because they needed to keep good ideas to the city


Who did the Romans get most of their ideas from?

A major source of ideas was the Greeks. The Romans were deeply influenced by them. Greek influence started early on in the history of the Romans as the Greeks established settlements in southern Italy and Sicily. In these early days, the Romans adopted some Greek gods and myths and the book of the Sibylline of Cumae, who were Greek oracles in Cumae, a Greek city near Naples. When the Romans conquered the Greek city of Tarentum in southern Italy, a Greek educator moved to Rome and established the model for education in Rome. Studying Greek became part of the education of elite men, who became fluent in this language and used it often. In this period the Romans also adopted Greek drama and comedy for theatre plays. This laid the foundations for the development of Latin literature. When the Romans got in contact with mainland Greece, Greek influenced increased further. They adopted Greek sports and Greek medicine. They also adopted and adapted Greek Hellenistic sculpture. The two main Greek schools of philosophy, Stoicism and Epicureanism became popular among the Roman elite. The Romans were influenced by Greek astronomy and astrology. They also adopted Greek siege machines for warfare and developed them to a more sophisticated level.


How was Roman art different from Greek are?

The Romans greatly admired the art and architecture of Greece, as well as many of their ideas. Roman art is not really the same as Greek art, but the Romans did copy the Greeks. One notable copy is the column. The Greeks used solid marble 'drums' to build their columns, the Romans built theirs with brick, faced with cement to resemble the Greek columns. .Roman art is more naturalistic and less stylized then Greek art. Greeks were most interested in idealism Romans were more interested in realism.


How was roman art different from Greek art .?

The Romans greatly admired the art and architecture of Greece, as well as many of their ideas. Roman art is not really the same as Greek art, but the Romans did copy the Greeks. One notable copy is the column. The Greeks used solid marble 'drums' to build their columns, the Romans built theirs with brick, faced with cement to resemble the Greek columns. .Roman art is more naturalistic and less stylized then Greek art. Greeks were most interested in idealism Romans were more interested in realism.


How was art different from Greek art?

The Romans greatly admired the art and architecture of Greece, as well as many of their ideas. Roman art is not really the same as Greek art, but the Romans did copy the Greeks. One notable copy is the column. The Greeks used solid marble 'drums' to build their columns, the Romans built theirs with brick, faced with cement to resemble the Greek columns. .Roman art is more naturalistic and less stylized then Greek art. Greeks were most interested in idealism Romans were more interested in realism.