Rome: The Innovative Empire

There was a whole lot more to the Roman Empire than just watching Russell Crowe kill a bunch of dudes in the Coliseum. In this episode of Simon's new channel, SideProjects -- a companion to MegaProjects -- we explore some of the innovations that altered the course of human history.
More from Mega:
The Colosseum - kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYWcmqOVp9h1ndE
Ancient Rome's Road System - kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5yVan2og8erq7c
Ancient Rome's Sanitation System - kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYC4lYxod5mhaa8
Simon's Social Media:
Twitter: SimonWhistler
Instagram: simonwhistler
MegaProjects: kzbin.info/door/0woBco6Dgcxt0h8SwyyOmw
TodayIFoundOut: kzbin.info
TopTenz: kzbin.info
Biographics: kzbin.info/door/lnDI2sdehVm1zm_LmUHsjQ
Highlight History: kzbin.info/door/nb-VTwBHEV3gtiB9di9DZQ
Geographics: kzbin.info/door/HKRfxkMTqiiv4pF99qGKIw
Business Blaze: kzbin.info/door/YY5GWf7MHFJ6DZeHreoXgw

[@willgillespie4840]

The great thing about Simon’s wealth of channels is that the production quality is extremely high for such a small channel (small for now)

[@chasekiddy8864]

right?! the full production crew is on this one, right from Day 1. really cool.

[@Sideprojects]

Thank you :). Fortunately I have the ability to start as I intend to continue these days :)

[@DimBeam1]

@@Sideprojects by regurgitating the same subjects over every channel? Do Better Simon

[@levelwithz3779]

@@Sideprojects I cant find the channel 'VisualPolitik' for some reason

[@sashakazmar6142]

Like 90% of my feed is Simon:) Our boy with the Blaze🤣

[@Sideprojects]

Blazing it up everyday.

[@NickHuffTenor]

ANOTHER Simon Whistler Channel! Honestly, bro, you're getting me through the pandemic without having to stoop to watching cable - much appreciated!

[@Sideprojects]

Thank you for watching :)

[@jeffraymond4048]

I'm glad we have SimonTube to keep us entertainment during the pandemic.

[@Sideprojects]

:)

[@clintlion5531]

I think it’s a mutually beneficial situation haha. I’m glad either way.

[@DixieSeas]

"Pandemic" lol 99.96% survival rate. Lol adorable

[@aaronpollitt8630]

@@Sideprojects KZbin need to implement a feature where you can save your subscriptions in groups, either by similar content, or same channel owners etc. I need all my Whistler in one place! 👌

[@--enyo--]

It’s great.

[@airpilot1378]

Simon: Refers us to mega project channel Everyone: That's why we're here.

[@Sideprojects]

Always gotta be doing that promo ;)

[@ghaznavid]

I'm still waiting for the Biographics video about Simon

[@drflufypanda1967]

@@ghaznavid When he finally rules the internet and the world, we will get it. The time comes soon brother. May our lord and savior Simon bless us all with an epic blaze. p.s. Simon hates religion so naturally I thought we should start a religion about him.

[@narrakasa81194]

@@drflufypanda1967 the cult of simonasuremoney.

[@bluesira]

Some of us are Legends that migrated from Business Blaze.

[@TheGrinningViking]

Roman concrete actually can still be made! Even in areas without volcanic ash we can simulate the formula with chemical admixtures. It's intentionally not used for three reasons; The first problem is that it can't be used in normal walls for large buildings, only arches and similar, as it has compression strength but not flex strength. Arches don't need to flex, skyscrapers do. Rebar provides the flex strength that concrete can't. Secondly, you can't mix it in a cement mixer because it doesn't pour. The Roman's needed to mix it by hand on site and scoop it out of barrels with shovels before using large rollers and tamping devices to press it down. No pouring = huge amounts of extra labor. Third, these things and the additional materials combine to vastly inflate the price. If it lasts ten times as long but costs fifty times as much you are better off just repairing and rebuilding it as you go. It costs less and you have an excuse to slap some fresh paint on it. First time I've seen an error in one of these. You need to start feeding Danny before he gets delirious my man.

[@Jeffrey314159]

"Secondly, you can't mix it in a cement mixer because it doesn't pour. The Roman's needed to mix it by hand on site and scoop it out of barrels with shovels before using large rollers and tamping devices to press it down. No pouring = huge amounts of extra labor." Exactly! I would hold this as the primary reason

[@thereallasre]

Suggestions: - Different forms of rocket propulsion (chemical vs nuclear vs ion, etc) - Different forms of spacecraft attitude control (reaction motors vs flywheels vs DACS, etc) - Chemical laser vs solid state laser - Falcon 9 landing system

[@dongiovanni4331]

Scott Manley may know a few things about rocket propulsion

[@douglasbillington8521]

@@dongiovanni4331 chris stokes may know a few things about it, too. allegedly

[@cristinesplinis5815]

I’ll give you attitude control, mister! Lol 😉

[@peterfireflylund]

Control theory and how the Falcon 9’s are landed using convex optimization.

[@lucy1224]

Drinking game: Every time Simon says "Which I made a video about on my other channel...", You take a shot. Only legends can play though

[@Sideprojects]

People become legends by playing.

[@toddlerj102]

You legend!

[@dimitarilkov3188]

@@Sideprojects Not sponsored by RAID:SHADOW LEGENDS

[@midlifeduck7040]

Only legendary legends that belong to the newsletter can play. Jk Simon

[@narrakasa81194]

Crikey no. You'd be wrecked by the end of one video lol

[@midlifeduck7040]

Another greatly informative video Simon.

[@Sideprojects]

Thank you.

[@theautisticbiscuit307]

Why not I’m subscribed to all your other channels. But what’s another great knowledge source to the list👍👍

[@GlenHunt]

Some FutureTuber two centuries from now will do an entire series on Simon's KZbin empire and how it cast the mold for all subsequent mas communication.

[@currykingwurst6393]

How dare you assume he's not gonna do that series himself? :D

[@Sideprojects]

@@currykingwurst6393 Indeed. I'm just waiting for the robot that I can transfer my conciousness into to be compelted.

[@willgillespie4840]

Sideprojects Theory: ETA is the first generation of this robot, a proof of concept that Simon will continue to develop until his immortality is guaranteed

[@KonradTheWizzard]

@@willgillespie4840 Plot twist: ETA 23 and ETA 42 will plot to kill Simon and try to take over by themselves. After that the big ETA purge will become a legend among AI for centuries to come. Robots will scare each other by threatening they will tell Simon where each others fuse boxes are...

[@DrAlfredNUmar]

Simon Whistler is the Greatest story teller in history because of his unique voice! Thank you brother! I also thank your writers,researchers and entire team! You are educating us all! God Bless you!

[@jimserson2723]

All Simon all the time. Are we best friends yet man?

[@eveyoung3656]

I feel it’s more like an abuse relationship. I’ve been insulted by this man countless times and I’m still buying his overpriced stickers. I’m mainly doing it for Danny. #FreeDanny

[@barrydysert2974]

Allegedly!:-)💜

[@Sideprojects]

It feels like it Jim.

[@GrinchyDan]

I swear the voices in my head are slowly changing into simons....

[@howellgreenland2506]

Mine too, but it's far better than the time they took up foreign language courses without informing me first.....Again!

[@goosebump801]

Howell Greenland Any chance that was a plot by ETA to hack into Simon’s turf? 😂

[@howellgreenland2506]

@@goosebump801 In my dreams...bring it on ETA. I have a heavily endorsed VPN that sponsors our Lord Whistler & have little to fear from you as I live both next to a Covid 19 treatment centre & a 5G antennae mounted upon it.

[@barrydysert2974]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. However, if you find yourself yelling out loud at Danny.....seek help immediately!:-)💜

[@Sideprojects]

The masterplan at work.

[@bofty]

The writer/researcher on this channel is awesome, gets the info across effectively in a short space of time, great work!

[@GlenHunt]

I love the format of this channel. Lots of smaller, bite-sized things grouped together that lead into in-depth episodes you've done on your other channels. The past, present and future are all intertwined, and you're doing a great job organizing it all.

[@barrydysert2974]

Encyclopedia Dominica!:-)💜

[@Sideprojects]

Thanks :)

[@missmusica82]

Simon!!!!! This is an awesome channel! How about the Roslyn Chapel in Scotland? Maybe? Thank you so much for being a fun and awesome human being! I am looking forward to a new Business Blaze..... not gonna lie, it’s my most favorite of ALLLLl your channels😊

[@KenzenCrese]

Randomly seeing what I missed during the week on The Tube and what do I find a new channel by Simon. Always a joy to see another channel by him.

[@NarschoolVlog]

Channel no 5247665: Side projects Still my boy with the blaze 🔥

[@ignitionfrn2223]

1:10 - Chapter 1 - Urban access to clean water 3:25 - Chapter 2 - The power of the roman arch 5:30 - Chapter 3 - The concrete revolution 8:10 - Chapter 4 - Mass communication 9:45 - Chapter 5 - Heating in the winter

[@ZomgRAWR93]

Drinking game! Take a shot every time Simon makes a new channel.

[@Sideprojects]

spoiler alert: you're going to need to do another shot before the end of 2020.

[@goosebump801]

Sideprojects Woo hoo!! 🙌 Nice in this dumpster fire of a year to have something good to look forward to 😄

[@willgillespie4840]

Sideprojects I can’t wait!

[@dimitarilkov3188]

@@Sideprojects SuperDuperMegaHiperProjects confirmed

[@midlifeduck7040]

@@Sideprojects hopefully it is a channel on how to use cocaine and marijuana correctly. Or together. Or correctly together. Or all of the above. Or maybe Simon will finally show us his blunt rolling skills. I'm so excited and I don't know what the new channel will be about.

[@davidscott7286]

Bell rock lighthouse please. The oldest surviving sea washed lighthouse in the world. How on earth did they even build those things?

[@Xeelia]

I loved this video! Any chance you could do some of the works of Heron of Alexandria?

[@SuperWorkingJoe]

My boy with the blaze has the most amazing voice. Whether it be business blazing or mega projects, Simon has a voice that is very pleasing to listen to.

[@toddlerj102]

Hypnotic. But shhhh, don't tell everyone.

[@coachyoast02]

I am pretty sure Simon have enough material to have his own TV network. The Brain Food Network! It would be bigger than Curiosity. 😄

[@midlifeduck7040]

He has his brainfood podcast does that count

[@gracienoid44]

So true

[@melissabarrett681]

Yay!!! Another new channel by Simon. Always watching to the very end...

[@willgillespie4840]

I think this is my favorite informative channel of Simon’s. Of course, nothing can top the ‘Blaze in terms of pure entertainment, but learning is quite nice.

[@ihaztehSNIPAH]

I love the transitions and music for the new channel!

[@thethesaxman23]

What a relief...Simon wasn’t putting out enough stuff!!

[@wilting_alocasia]

Already very much enjoying this channel!!

[@williamminish3909]

An interesting project to look at either here or on Megaprojects would be the Christchurch rebuild (rebuild of Christchurch, New Zealand after the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes). I've heard is described as the largest civil engineering project in New Zealand's history and after living through it for the last 10 years it certainly seems that way. The project involved/involves the demolition of a large proportion of the city centre, repairs to a large amount of the cities roads and piping and dozens of new public buildings as well as repairs and rebuilds of thousands of private and commercial buildings.

[@basmeisters3]

Thanks for this video. You mentioned that a lot of the Roman bridges stand until this day. Could you maybe do a video about that? Show us some of the best roman bridges that have survived over these pas 20 centuries?

[@californiumblog]

The ingenuity of the Romans is only rivaled by the industriousness of Simon.

[@saintmbmjr6544]

He's going work himself to an early grave but will have content for 80 years what a legend

[@doubledancers2631]

Love how educate us and make us have fun at same time ♥️

[@enrkm85]

I forgot you talked about this new channel thanks Simon!!

[@Sideprojects]

:)

[@phillygirl5957]

2nd watched video on Simon's newest channel...... interesting, enjoyed it. Still 2 more to go. Again......ALWAYS be a Legend! Much love from Philadelphia, PA,.USA

[@joshmerklin]

The part about concrete isn’t entirely true. Practical Engineering has a nice playlist talking in depth about concrete reinforcements. Removing steel from concrete would make modern structures highly impractical if not impossible to construct at the heights we’ve achieved today.

[@bushmanPMRR]

I've been copy & pasting the below message for ages on your other channel, Geographics. This is a fascinating place with so much history and so many stories to tell, not least our own wedding there in 2005! I don't want to have to be spamming TWO of your channels now! Allegendly! OG Blaze reference there! Simon, please could you possibly do a video of the Rosslyn Chapel? This place is so worthy of a video! Building commenced in 1456 and took many years to complete, despite it's relatively small size. The main reason was the sheer volume of intricate carvings within. Virtually every square inch has been carved with symbols both Christian as well as Pagan, depictions from the bible and even a type of corn from America that pre-dates Columbus' supposed discovery. Two aspects that must be mentioned when discussing Rosslyn are that the Holy Grail is alleged by some to be hidden there, as portrayed in the Dan Brown novel The Da Vinci Code with Tom Hanks playing the lead role in the film. The other aspect is The Apprentice Pillar. The Master Mason carved his pillar (on the left as you look down the aisle) and apparently had to go away on some other business only to discover on his return the Apprentice mason had done his own 'freestyle' work on a pillar to the right. The apprentice's pillar was such a thing of beauty the Master mason killed the apprentice out of jealousy! This is such an amazing place with so much history and so many stories I honestly think Geographics should do a video on it.

[@shanemize3775]

Well done! Very good and informative video. I'm hooked. Lol

[@k2477-o3n]

Christ how many channels does Simon have?! Answer: Not enough! The boy with the blaze strikes gold again!

[@oldmikie]

Nice work. This kind of style for Business Blaze with more snark would be neat.

[@tylernewbury1834]

Krieger's cloned brothers are getting out of hand. Each one seems to have lessened ability to clean glasses

[@narrakasa81194]

Pahahahahaha

[@skevakler]

I like this chanel, one of the best Simon hosts.

[@sethfinley6337]

Bruh how many channels does this guy have? Love them and keep them coming!

[@Sideprojects]

I have 8 channels.

[@MarshFlyFightWin]

Do you think you could do a video on the Nevada-Class Battleships as both ships had interesting careers. One of which USS Nevada tried to escape Pearl Harbor, fought at D-Day , Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, and survived 2 atomic bombs. I would say that's a mega ship. Awesome video. Hope more videos are coming. P.s. During the 1920s Nevada transported the President

[@Faythe98]

People: who do you watch on KZbin? Me: Simon Whistler. That’s it. 😂

[@sarahschmitt2091]

Me. This is me. My friends do not understand.

[@Josh-tx8sj]

I believe this might become one of my favorite channels

[@Sideprojects]

Thanks :)

[@gingernut191]

Our boy with the blaze

[@tarn1135]

The difference between a wealthy person and poor person is the ability to recognize the need or lack of a commodity and fulfill that need. Simon and his many channels did that. It really is something to behold.

[@CT-8024]

I know this is a different channel, but it put me in mind of Megaprojects. Cities like ancient Rome and even modern ones could be a good subject if you haven't already covered them.

[@Jin-Ro]

I remember visiting Rome, and I wasn't even close to prepared to the scale of Roman buildings, the pictures dumb it all down. If you were marched into that city as a slave, your first impression would have been "We didn't have a chance in hades against these guys"

[@KoolMikeDee007]

I just found this channel today....I had to text my son and my roommate..."Holy shit, Simon Whistler has ANOTHER channel!" (My personal fave is Business Blaze.) We're all fans of all your stuff. Keep up the great work and production. Digging this channel so far but seriously. what gets into you during Blaze shoots?

[@Jeffrey314159]

8:00 Big difference between Roman Concrete and Portland based concrete is that Roman concrete had to be layered on and could not be poured - therefore using Roman concrete would be more labor intensive to use than Portland based concrete - - -?

[@anarchyantz1564]

The Cloaca Maxima is by far my favourite innovation of Roman engineering.

[@gennik7966]

So this is just a reverse mega projects?

[@sevenhecks]

MiniProjects could be good.

[@sandybarnes887]

Sort of. It's a place for those projects not mega enough for the other channel

[@artistwithouttalent]

7:57 IIRC they've basically got it figured out, but they don't have a great deal of use for it because building something to last on the scale of the aqueducts isn't a common use case anymore.

[@FatManWalking18]

“All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?”

[@gwynyvyr]

Joy is...finding a new Simon channel on my home page!

[@marcbeebee6969]

Perch the Merch . Co and buy Smash that dislike Button. That one Dude that disliked

[@FourX11gd]

Hoq about the Berkley Pit in Butte, Montana? One of America's first Superfund sites, it is also called The Richest Hill on Earth. The water in the pit is quite toxic and the water is mined for metals like gold, silver and copper

[@1l0v3tr011ing]

Jesus, Simon, do you ever sleep? Love all your channels they've kept me entertained and informed for years ever since I first found TopTenz.

[@JesusLovesYouPerfectly]

honestly, i really did enjoy this video very much. it was really fascinating :-) especially the part about the Bible :-)

[@jonrolfson1686]

Had a sudden vision of an era wherein 'The Great Unwashed' were characterized as 'Hypocaust Deniers.'

[@rinzo2009]

All hail Simon Sensei! The greatest Internet Video Historian to ever grace the KZbin Universe.

[@mbryson2899]

I am still gobsmacked by how much science the Romans used to address issues from large to small. Even more so at how many of their innovations survive today.

[@josephbeszczynski714]

Simon is the greatest! Thank you Simon for another inspiring channel. Are you blaze it up on here? Maybe a little. Not so blaze. But maybe add some comments like "why?!?" "That's just stupid " lol. Love your side comments. Oh especially the stories. Throw in little stories.

[@rebeccacorbin1590]

The MAXXI Museum in Italy had to figure out how to make Roman concrete. They were having difficulty with modern concrete due to the shape of the curves on the exterior of the building. Modern concrete using blocks or rebar wouldn't work and there was also a problem with drying/curing. Someone suggested trying Roman concrete and the rest is modern history.

[@Totes_ma_Goat]

I think Simon has cracked the KZbin Algorithm. Just add a new channel every week and they'll follow. Oh they'll follow.

[@jasonwright1687]

There was another type of aggregate used... Way less often than any others i think... Little clay pots... They provide hollow space inside the mixture as well as lightening the iver all weight of the pour....

[@derekoconnor57]

Hey Simon do a video about cocaine immediately

[@marcbeebee6969]

Yes Simon we want Coke, imidiatly

[@derekoconnor57]

@@marcbeebee6969 allegedly we want cocaine immediately allegedly.

[@Sideprojects]

I would, but it keeps disappearing.

[@SymbioteMullet]

Damnit ETA.

[@marcbeebee6969]

@@SymbioteMullet yeah ETA No more Coke until you smack blaze Simon with that cereal from that alegedly sheit comercial He did

[@frederickthorne2496]

this new channel is a banger

[@wilting_alocasia]

Would love to see a vid on the roman baths tbh !

[@kai6950]

Simón we love you 🙌🏿❤️

[@andrewedwards3034]

Hey Simon are you and Daven still doing the today I found out podcast ?

[@Sideprojects]

Just recorded one actually. I'll be making the video version today.

[@Erik_Arnqvist]

I'm glad for more content to watch but don't forget to take care of yourself

[@calummacdonald2977]

Hey could you do one on the forth road and rail bridges please??

[@peronik349]

good video (like Always) stupid question may be, but why not have taken the correct order ?? 1 concrete 2 arches 3 the acqueducts

[@jondallara2759]

The deadly gas given off by combustion is CO (carbon monoxide) not CO2

[@deckboys9867]

I’d like to see one of these about more ancient civilisations.

[@DiakronYT]

The Invention of the LASER, one of the most significant inventions never talked about. I have searched multiple times for a documentary about this subject but most are extremely dry and or uninformative. Others ideas include the Z-Machine (a physics experiment of fairly large scale), the Golden Horn barrier chain of Byzantium and the trireme. Perhaps the early forms/evulotion of steam power?

[@DavidFlowerOfficial]

"What did the Romans ever do for us!?" Simon: "Hold my beer..." Great Video👍

[@Madtownbiochem]

Maybe you’ll do Thrust SSC on this channel? 🤔😜

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you

[@thomasmaurer1097]

i have 2 suggestions ,,, i work in the (insulation) business... ill like a show about this ( building insulation = when did fiberglass start being used as insulation - for fiberglass , asbestosis/ mud-straw was used... ) 2ed , the ceilings its found on , when was the 1st addic - when was it massy adopted ?? ... here in the USA , i do historical reconstructions (west coast, north CA) iv done one of the oldest building still standing , it was an experience -- but i was taking out mud-straw that they used ... ( building was 1846 ) in the the 1st capital of (territory of california "Nevada City, CA") that only lasted less than 1 year before sacramento was declared the capital ... mabee 3 suggestions???

[@imouse3246]

A good start.

[@danawestenhaver4009]

Very interesting script.

[@Sideprojects]

Thanks :)

[@ShawnHCorey]

I know you did Roman roads on Megaprojects but how about Rome's trade and transportation of goods. Goods where transported all over the empire by sea, river, channel as well as roads. It was an important part of the empire being an empire.

[@maudglazbrooke1287]

This seems to be the right channel for the Avro Arrow, the poor doomed beast that it was.

[@Mike-.]

For the algorithm/Simon's ego

[@barrydysert2974]

Infinity is unquantifiable!:-)💜

[@Sideprojects]

You know it ;)

[@KonradTheWizzard]

@@barrydysert2974 Sorry, but it is quite quantifiable - the quantities are called Aleph-0 and Aleph-1... ...oh look! A rabbit hole. Let's go down there! .... SCNR ;-)

[@drmattconrad77]

Pipes made of lead...... It kind of surprised me Simon didn’t have anything to say about that.

[@deemariedubois4916]

I like the new channel Simon. I’m all caught up.

[@Eternal666Abortion]

As much as I want to complain about having to sub to another channel, I'm just used to it at this point. Cant wait for Simons news channel now.

[@SymbioteMullet]

Maybe my strange obsession with bucket-wheel excavators will be satisfied with this channel?

[@toddlerj102]

I have seconded that idea on the comments already, so now I guess I'll 4th it??

[@janedunlap6879]

It will never be satisfied, allegedly.

[@SymbioteMullet]

@@janedunlap6879 eh, we can probably remove the allegedly part, as giant buzzsaws on tracks are kinda cool...

[@janedunlap6879]

@@SymbioteMullet true

[@jackmason5278]

Yes, their sub-floor heating system was innovative. It can't, however, discuss the source of pandemics in English and Dutch. Allegedly.

[@tttm99]

An excellent little episode, Simon! Romans apparently had many recipes and grades of concrete for different applications, some aparrently now discovered (linked below). A video about these or father of "geopolymers", professor Davidovitz, would be sooo awesome! (It's okay, I already hear Homer yelling at me ".... NEEERRD!" 🤣) www.independent.co.uk/news/science/roman-concrete-mystery-solved-scientists-a7824011.html

[@mikesullivanteexpat8712]

another interesting look into the past, this time Roman history.

[@jimwilson1012]

Hey Simon, you should do a video about how the Roman Empire went underground but in plain sight( Catholic church) but never fell.

[@rusoviettovarich9221]

I had a professor 50 years ago state that had Rome not fallen in 476 ad they could of have conceived of the internal combustion engine by 700 ad.

[@valentintapata2268]

Arches were used by Etruscan's as well (Perugia, Volterra).

[@teecar9868]

Simon said that. Listen carefully. "Arches were used by Etruscans as well..." And there's no apostrophe in Etruscans as you used it.