The other day we went for a walk outside the wall. The object of this walk was to see if we could find a bike shop. Obviously this was organized by Dwayne as part of his ongoing quest to find a bike shop suitable to put his new bike together.
As we roamed around Italian neighbourhoods, I decided to ignore the fact that the leader of this excursion had no idea where he was going and just enjoy the scenery. And there, smack dab in the middle of a quiet street, was a beautiful intact Roman aqueduct. We decided to follow it up a bit and at the end was an intact large Roman cistern.
Do young Italians today appreciate their history or is it just another spot to put graffiti on? I wondered if half of them even knew what this was running behind all their houses, and if they had a concept about the significance the Romans and Italians had on humanity with their inventions.
Over the last couple of weeks I had asked, ‘Where did all the smart people go?’ By this I meant that ancient Rome and Italy during the Renaissance was time of great thought and invention and I wondered where the Galileo Galileis and Leonardo Da Vincis are today? Some of the things that were invented in Italy are such sheer genius it boggles my mind.
I could see firsthand that the Romans invented advanced roads, aqueducts, sewer systems, fast curing cement, and stone arches. They also invented the calendar, indoor plumbing, public toilettes, and yes even socks.
Here are some other Italian inventions: the mercury barometer, the battery, the piano, the thermometer. In addition, in 1564 the condom was invented in Italy. Ironic considering this is such a Catholic country. And for those drinkers at home, which would be all of you, in 1786, Vermouth was invented here. Was it shaken or stirred?
After sitting with Luc as he showed me the features of his iPod, I think I know where some of the smart people went. They went to work for Apple.
Roman Aqueduct