Did ancient Romans have explosives?

No, the ancient Romans did not have explosives. Gunpowder was invented by the Chinese at least 300 years after the fall of Rome and the western Roman Empire. The Chinese initially used it for fireworks and other trifles. read more

Specific weapons from the ancient and medieval periods continued to develop, and many have modern equivalents. Rocket technology, originally trialled by the Mongols, Indians and the Chinese, amongst others, was improved by the 19th century; one example was the incendiary Congreve rocket, which had a tail, a fuse, and a powder charge (saltpetre, sulfur and carbon) inside a hollow shell. read more

Per capita water usage in ancient Rome matched that of modern-day cities like New York City or modern Rome. Most water was for public use, such as baths and sewers. De aquaeductu is the definitive two volume treatise on 1st century aqueducts of Rome, written by Frontinus. read more