How To Build A City (Roman Operating System)

How To Build A City (Roman Operating System)

Summary by Matt Skinner

This article based on the dated Roman Operating System, which gives clear guidelines on what was at the time the most important act for maintaining the Roman Empire, the reproduction of generic cities or “genericities”. The city would be arranged on a matrix with easily identifiable components within the edges that contain it. Each site is evaluated with standardized components for asserting Rome’s Imperial authority while individualized based on local conditions like topographical, climactic or cultural conditions. Keeping to a uniform and codified “series of signs” such as buildings, streets and gateways with standardized building types, planning strategies, and infrastructures allowed for manifestations of the world under a single rule.
Each individual city under Roman rule would be comprised of basic equipment, which was the necessary hardware for connection and communication with other cities throughout the Empire. “The city consists of standardized buildings, monuments, planning techniques, services and infrastructures which will allow you to create the necessary armature in your city.” Buildings include the Basilica (an indoor market area used in inclement weather), The Capitolium (the temple of the state religion), Templa (the offical residence of God or the Emperor of the city), The Theatrum (presentation of games and performances in honor of the Capitoline Triad) and the Thermae (hygienic baths and social houses). Monuments would be placed strategically throughout the city such as The Arcus (a monument to commerorate a military or legislative victory) and The Columna (used for multiple commermorative purposes in a prominent urban location).
The planning for a “genercity” is composed of three major elements the Cardo Et Decumanus, the Centuratio and the Forum. Cardo Et Decumanus “are the primary perpendicular axes which define the geographical and spiritual center of the city.” Performed by a magistrate the “Cardo” latin for hinge would be the center of the city through analysis of its solar orientation. Centuratio is a process of “gridding,” which occur outside the cities’ “limites” (walls or edges), serves agricultural purposes and is emphasized on its importance to surrounding cities and landscapes. The Forum is and outdoor market space and social gathering area (the heart of the city), which is always centrally located and near building the reinforce the relationship of commerce and governance.
Infrastructure consist of Aque Ductus, which are used primarily for the transportation and distribution of water into and throughout the city. Limites are essential in fortification of a city from enemy invaders while on the other hand creating an edge or container that also provides control on goods coming into and out of the Empire. Limites can consist of walls and or ditches. Finally the Viae, which is a “network of stone-paved roads” laid out throughout the Empire to connect all cities together which enhanced trading and allowed for more efficient transportation of goods, slaves, animals and mail.
“General Operating Principles” are based on the awareness of natural components when choosing a site. It is important to appropriate a site by analyzing its access to trade, water, and transportation. Site are evaluated based on six conditions mountainous, level, dry and waterless, rich and well-watered, fertile and abundant, or barren and less fertile. Now that the site is understood the next principle is the organization of the city in a “rectangular form with two main thoroughfares (cardo and decumanus),” which cross in the center of the city. Next you should establish a perimeter around the city comprised of “Limites” that meet at four cardinal points. Gates should be place at main streets entering the perimeter of the city with secondary streets layout in a “chess board” configuration. Following these procedures necessary rituals are performed in order to assure protection for the city of the gods. “After you have secured the protection of the gods and satisfied the necessary geometric requirements, you are ready to begin programming your city.

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