What the Romans Did for Us

Production

Reception

Awards

Episodes

Episode one: ''Life of Luxury''

• Roman villas, such as Littlecote Roman Villa visited by Hart-Davis, had elaborate mosaics and ornate gardens.
• The screw press, reconstructed using traditional techniques by carpenter Henry Russell, was used to produce wine.
• Aqueducts, such as the one near Dorchester visited by Hart-Davis, exemplified the Roman's mastery of hydraulic engineering.
• Hypocausts, like the replica visited by Hart Davis, was the heart of Thermae, such as those in Bath, Somerset visited by Hart-Davis.
• Cooking implements, demonstrated by food historian and chef Sally Grainger, were used to create 3-course Roman meals.

  Episode two: ''Invasion''

• Galleys with banks of rowers, simple sails and twin steering oars brought over 40,000 troops that landed at Richborough.
• Legionaries and cavalrymen with superior armour, battle formations, field weapons, and even elephants swept to victory.
• Pre-fabricated forts, such as the reconstruction at Lunt visited by Hart-Davis, secured the victory and exemplified their engineering skills.
• Roman artillery such as the Onager and the Ballista secured victory at Maiden Castle and Hodd Hill visited by Hart-Davis.
• Pharos, such as the one visited by Hart-Davis, guided Roman supply vessels into the great port at Dover.

  Episode three: ''Building Britain''

• Intensive farming methods introduced by the Romans included the introduction of new crops, the draining of marshes, and iron ploughs.
• Trade and commerce settlements alongside the military camps grew into grid-patterned walled towns such as York visited by Hart-Davis.
• Sewers, high-rise apartments, street lighting and glass windows were all features of Roman towns and cities.
• Cafes and snack bars provided the Romans with fast food takeaways including pies, pastries, sausages and even hamburgers.
• Fire brigades and primitive fire extinguishers, demonstrated by Hart-Davis, were developed under the auspices of the Emperor Nero.

  Episode four: ''Arteries of the Empire''

• Groma surveying, demonstrated by Hart-Davis, allowed the surveying of perfectly straight roads such as Watling Street and Stane Street.
• The construction of Roman roads, demonstrated by Hart Davis, has allowed them to endure to this day.
• Vitruvius's odometer, demonstrated by Hart-Davis, were used for the accurate measurement and placing of milestones.
• Roman merchants introduced mass-produced pottery, glassware, amber jewellery, metal ware and amphora of wine and olive oil.
• Gold was mined with revolutionary engineering, in places like Dolaucothi Gold Mines visited by Hart-Davis, for use in trade.

  Episode five: ''Edge of Empire''

• Hadrian's Wall marked the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, and had defensive features such as milecastles and forts such as Housesteads.
• At supply depots such as Arbeia, Romans baked bread in open fires.
• Roman soldiers used rounded stones as defensive weapons, and blacksmiths made arrowheads and other items out of iron.
• Many documents have been discovered at Vindolanda fort, such as postcards made out of thin wood veneer.
• Wax tablets were used for making temporary notes.
• Flagged beacons were used to send messages between forts, milecastles, and watchtowers.
• Pre-determined messages were also sent using identical water-clocks, and signalling using fire.

  Episode six: ''Ahead of Their Time''

• The occupying Romans kept their people occupied with food and entertainment, or "bread and circuses".
• Gladiators performing in amphitheatres would use a coin-operated water dispenser for cleansing as part of their pre-fight rituals.
• Romans built automata driven by a weight sitting on a container of sand that was slowly allowed to empty.
• Builders made mortar out of chalk and sand, and added volcanic ash to make quick-setting concrete. This was used to make arched and domed structures.
• An anonymous work, De Rebus Bellicis, featured various war machines, such as an inflatable bridge made out of animal skins.
• Eventually, the Roman empire simply became too large and indefensible, and the troops were gradually withdrawn from Britain. Although some technologies were then lost, we still retain some to this day.