Text 18. Roman architecture

Words and word combinations:

ancient -древний

peak - пик; вершина

to border- граничитьa

aqueduct- водопровод

vault - свод

dome - купол

solely - исключительно

extraordinary-необычайный

medieval - средневековый

arch- арка

fortress - крепость

monastery- монастырь.

Roman architecture. The Romans ruled the large empire of ancient times. At its peak, the Roman Empire included all the lands bordering the Mediterranean. It also extended as far north as the British Isles and the east as the Persian Gulf. Numerous architectural designs were used throughout the empire because many regions had developed their own building traditions. Roman architecture had a greet deal of stylish unity. The Romans built more kinds of structures.In additions tohouses, temples, and palaces, the Romans constructed such projects as aqueducts, public baths, shops, theatres, and gigantic outdoor arenas. Most of these structures were built during a period from about 100 before the A.D. 300’s.The Romans were the first to fully utilize two formed roof designs, the arch and the vault. A vault is an arched roof of ceiling. The dome was a common form of vault in Roman architecture. The use of the arch and vault eliminated the need for columns to support the roof. Instead, the roof could rest solely on the outer walls. The Romans used columns simply as sculptural decorations attached to walls. A splendid example of Roman roof design is the Baths of Caracalla (A.D. 211-217) in the city of Rome. The ruins of the building still stand. The baths had a system of vaults that provided vast areas of interior space. This space was so high and so deep that the Romans admired it as an extraordinary new forms of architectural beauty.

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Exercises: