Trajan's Bridge and the Roman Empire

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In the early part of the second century the Roman emperor Trajan needed a way for his troops to cross the mighty Danube river to fight Rome’s enemy the Dacians. Calling upon his great architect Apollodorus of Damascus, he built what would be the longest arch bridge the world had ever seen, or would see for another thousand years.
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This is original content based on research by The History Guy. Images in the Public Domain are carefully selected and provide illustration. As very few images of the actual event are available in the Public Domain, images of similar objects and events are used for illustration.
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Script by THG
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[@BizarreIoveTriangle]

Still blows my mind how advanced ancient engineering was. Great video!

[@VosperCDN]

So with the Danube being the border between Dacia and Rome, who were uneasy neighbours at the start, and it being troublesome for Rome when trying to invade, I guess this truly was a bridge over troubled waters.

[@EdDale44135]

It is interesting to see how much of what we think of as modern engineering is ancient engineering with powered machines, rather than human effort.

[@BlueBaron3339]

What hits you hardest when you study that history is how far the west was set back by the collapse of the western Roman empire. We "forgot" how to make structural concrete, for example, for a thousand years. Not to mention the hydraulic concrete the Romans used in creating ports - concrete that could cure underwater. Folks continue to marvel at what so many engineers of antiquity accomplished in many parts of the world. But that's largely because we have grown so accustomed to our tech that we've lost the ability to imagine life without it 😂

[@HM2SGT]

Good morning! I wish I had something clever and droll to say, but it's just the usual impressed appreciation. Thank you kindly sir!

[@RockinRobbins13]

"A bridge between humanity's past and its present." All you need to know about why we subscribe to The History Guy. Thank you for the stellar content.

[@KelpieDog]

I've been facinated by the Romans since I was a kid. Their engineering skills were mind boggling.

[@jeffreykalb9752]

The Dacian War was the last Roman war in which they garnered more treasure than it cost them. It deserves to be remembered as the high point of the Empire. There was thereafter literally no point in invading the poor tribes that surrounded them.

[@pakde8002]

I was always fascinated by the great Roman generals. Reading the histories by Roman writers was so incredible, to imagine reading the comments of contemporaries who lived thousands of years ago and witnessed much of it is just crazy. Hunting druids, auctioning off lakes full of gold offerings, all the intrigues and brilliant military strategies. I felt like I was witnessing it all from the dusty racks of the library.

[@ronalddevine9587]

What magnificent engineering. Thanks, Lance for sharing.

[@klauszinser]

A few weeks ago I have been travelling along the Danube in Romania. Also I have been near this place. Not far from here in Germany, when the Brigach + Breg come together the Danube starts. Then Riedlingen and Ulm (where Einstein was born).

[@Cachoeira1986]

thanks for that valuable update, Sir!!

[@dairallan]

I never knew the history guy was psychic. Doing a bridge episode the day before history was made.

[@marcusott2973]

Much awaited much appreciated excellent insights as always.

[@michaelporzio7384]

Fun Fact: Trajan is actually praised in the Romanian National Anthem: "Now or never, let us show the world

[@Gronk79]

One of the most amazing facts to me, was that Roman engineers/ architects had only Roman numerals to calculate with. Their mathematical system was unbelievably cumbersome and difficult.

[@scottclay4253]

Fascinating, thank you. Wonderful content as usual. Great stuff!

[@TheTiffanyAching]

Always fascinating. Thanks, HG!

[@nilo70]

Thank you for making this happen !

[@histguy101]

Not to be that person, but the longest bridge in antiquity was Constantine's bridge a little further downstream on the Danube at Sucidava. Trajan's bridge was 1135m meters long, while Constantine's bridge was 2437 meters long. Both bridges were built in the same manner. The remaining piers of Constantine's bridge could still be seen in the late 19th century, but have since washed away or are invisible beneath the surface. I only mention it because it is virtually unknown in popular history, and very few studies have been done on it.