The Roman Aqueducts: Engineering the Eternal City

The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History · Aug 4, 2026 · 7m · transcript

In this episode, Lucas and Luna trace the rise of Rome's water supply—from the first aqueduct, the Aqua Appia, built in 312 BC, to the towering Pont du Gard in Gaul. They explore how the aqueducts worked, who paid for them, and how they kept the baths and fountains running for centuries. Along the way, they meet Frontinus, the Roman official who wrote a treatise on the system, and uncover the gritty reality of lead pipes and sewage. The conversation also touches on the social and political implications of water access—how the rich tapped the public supply while the poor depended on…