1. Roman Numerals
roman numerals
Source: Papergirl/Wikimedia
Roman numerals originated in ancient Rome, but survived for some uses after the end of the Roman Empire. The numbers in the system are represented by combinations of letters from the Latin alphabet. Some practical examples can be seen at the entrances to the Roman Colosseum, which are labeled with Roman numerals – XXIII (23) to L (54).
Starting in the 14th century, Roman numerals began to be replaced by Arabic numerals, which benefitted from the use of the zero, making them much more useful for arithmetic and counting. Still, Roman numerals are still seen today — most often on clock faces or representing years on architecture.
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2. An Early form of Newspaper
16 Historical Roman Inventions That Helped Shape the Modern World
Source: Wknight94/Wikimedia
While Romans cannot be credited with creating a modern system of daily, paper newspapers, they did have something similar. They often inscribed news of current affairs unto stones, papyri, or metal slabs, which were placed in public spaces.
This publication was called Acta Diurna or 'daily acts' and originated as early as 131 B.C.
This Roman invention had much the same purpose as modern newspapers, giving Roman citizens information about military victories, births and deaths, and even human interest stories. Unfortunately, there are no surviving intact copies.
3. Modern Plumbing and Sanitary Management
16 Historical Roman Inventions That Helped Shape the Modern World
Source: Steven Fruitsmaak/Wikimedia
Romans were very knowledgeable when it came to civil engineering. But their talent wasn't limited to building large structures like the Colesseum or roadways. While it may seem less visually impressive, their engineering excellence is highlighted by their sewage and sanitary plumbing systems.
