Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
Roman concrete was one of the major reasons why Roman civilization was able to spread as far as it did, and last as long as it did. Concrete, made from a combination of water, lime, and sand, with the Romans specifically employing a type of volcanic sand called pozzolana, enabled the Romans to construct grandiose, monumental structures, such as the Colosseum, the Portus, and the Mausoleum of Augustus.
And yet, this remarkable construction material was seemingly lost during the Medieval period. The Eastern Roman Empire itself did not even use Roman concrete. So what happened?
Roman concrete was one of the major reasons why Roman civilization was able to spread as far as it did, and last as long as it did. Concrete, made from a combination of water, lime, and sand, with the Romans specifically employing a type of volcanic sand called pozzolana, enabled the Romans to construct grandiose, monumental structures, such as the Colosseum, the Portus, and the Mausoleum of Augustus.
And yet, this remarkable construction material was seemingly lost during the Medieval period. The Eastern Roman Empire itself did not even use Roman concrete. So what happened?
