Roman archItecture
Long before concrete made its appearance on the building scene in Rome, the Romans utilized a volcanic stone native to Italy called tufa to construct their buildings. Although tufa never went out of use, travertine began to be utilized in the late 2nd century B.C.E. because it was more durable. Also, its off-white color made it an acceptable substitute for marble.
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Fun facts
The Romans didn't invent the arch, however they did perfect it. It's ability to be stronger than a vertical beam made it a key role in architecture. In the modern world you think of arches you may think of bridges, walkways, or even monuments such as the Gateway arch. Fun fact the gateway arch was originally made of wood and plaster as a vision of Thomas Jefferson and St. Louis westward expansion of the United States.