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7.4.2 Europe's First System of Systems
Author(s) -
Brown Phillip J.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
incose international symposium
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2334-5837
DOI - 10.1002/j.2334-5837.2004.tb00590.x
Subject(s) - dominion , context (archaeology) , empire , civilization , government (linguistics) , harmonization , engineering , the republic , roman empire , architectural engineering , political science , civil engineering , economy , history , ancient history , archaeology , law , art , philosophy , aesthetics , linguistics , economics , theology
Systems thinking is as old as civilization. The question is can today's systems engineers benefit from examining the accomplishments of early system builders? This thought is examined in the context of roman engineering achievements. The birth of the Roman republic around 500 B.C. led to the building of an unprecedented array of remarkable systems. The needs of the republic, followed by those of the empire, produced important advances in building construction, water supply, mining and the building of bridges, roads, harbors, ships. Many complex systems such as the aqueducts supplying Rome's water were created. This paper postulates that the Romans developed Europe's first system of systems. The backbone of the system, a network of roads radiating out from Rome, began as a strategic initiative to maintain government control throughout the empire. Over time, this super system evolved into the means for Romanizing the many different cultures dragged into Rome's dominion. The resulting cultural harmonization left a lasting imprint on the world.