The Roman scholar Pope Nicholas V (1397-1455) decided to have hundreds of historic Greek books translated into Latin. Continuing in his quest to make the city deserving of being called the capital of the Christian world, he resolved to enhance the beauty of the city as well. Beginning in 1453, he called for the reconstruction of the Acqua Vergine,

Rome’s very first raised aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was built in 273 BC; before that, citizens residing at higher elevations had to rely on natural springs for their water. Outside of these aqueducts and springs, wells and rainwater-collecting cisterns were the only technologies obtainable at the time to supply water to locations o

The arrival of the Normans in the later half of the eleventh century greatly altered The Anglo-Saxon ways of living. The skill of the Normans surpassed the Anglo-Saxons' in architecture and agriculture at the time of the conquest. But before focusing on home-life or having the occasion to think about domestic architecture or decoration, the Normans

The arrival of the Normans in the later half of the eleventh century greatly altered The Anglo-Saxon ways of living. The skill of the Normans surpassed the Anglo-Saxons' in architecture and agriculture at the time of the conquest. But before focusing on home-life or having the occasion to think about domestic architecture or decoration, the Normans

A variety of different kinds of conduits have been unveiled through archaeological excavations on the island of Crete, the birthplace of Minoan civilization. These provided water and removed it, including water from waste and deluges. They were commonly made from terracotta or stone. When terracotta was chosen, it was frequently for canals as well