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450 BCE
The Twelve Tables
The twelve tables were established in 450 B.C. and were a set of early Roman law code. Some of the laws in the twelve tables are present in many other legal systems in the world, such as habeas corpus, subpoena, and affidavit. This picture is of the actual twelve tables located at the Museum of Roman Civilization in Rome. -
312 BCE
Aqueducts
The Roman aqueducts were first developed around 312 B.C. and allow the Roman empire to have public toilets, sewage systems, baths, etc. The aqueducts used gravity to push water along stone pipelines and into city centers. They vastly improved the public health and sanitation of the empire. The aqueducts were not invented in Rome, but were more reliable and longer lasting (some are still used today). -
131 BCE
The First Newspaper
The first newspaper was established in Rome about 131 B.C. and was referred to as acts diurna, or "daily acts". They were written on stone and placed in high-trafficked areas such as the Roman Forum. -
122 BCE
"Welfare"
A type of welfare program was first established in the Roman Empire around 122 B.C. It began as a law that ordered the government to give it's citizens allotments of cheap grain for food. Later, a program was introduced that would supply food, clothes, and education to orphans and poor children. Eventually, other items were added to the program and could be collected with tokens called "tesserae". -
46 BCE
Creation of the Julian Calendar
The Julian Calendar was established in 46 B.C. by Julius Caesar. The calendar was based on the solar year and was miscalculated, which threw off the year by several days. This was later modified into the Gregorian Calendar and closely resembles what we use today.
