A Roman Industrial Age?

[CiceroD]

Much attention has been lavished on the Steam Ball of Hero of Alexandria as well as the water mill "Factory" at Barbegal in Southern France. Many would point out that the Empire had the technology to realize the dream of an Industrial Revolution.

 

For whatever reason, be it the abundance of slaves or simple oversight, this did not come to pass of course. Even so, I would like to get your opinions of how Classical society would have dealt with the challenges of Industrialization.

[DecimusCaesar]

It would have caused all sorts of social problems, I would assume. If the Romans began construction on numerous industrial factories, it would have lead to many slaves being junked by the state. They would no longer serve a purpose, as would many other members of society. This might have led to all sorts of rioting and social problems: ex-slaves developing in large gangs and turning against the state, the dominant position of the patrician class would be under threat etc. Sort of like what happened in the 18th Century with the Luddites and the numerous revolutions of the period.

 

Imagine if the Romans could develop massively destructive weapons during the early years of the first millennium AD. Would it have caused catastrophic destruction to the low level population density of that time? After all, consider the deaths caused by industrial age weapons on the population of Europe during World War One...it was in the millions. Now imagine that same damage being caused by a primitive people with a completely different moral outlook on life. The Romans did have different attitudes to us, they saw mercy as a weakness, they glorified warfare etc. I wonder what those attitudes combined with industrial weaponry would have caused...

Just like the First World War, the technology could develop faster than than social and moral attitudes. And this could cause all sorts of damage. Imagine if a Tyrant Emperor had that sort of weaponry at his disposal...would we be seeing uncontrolled killing sprees?

 

Another problem you have to consider is this: to what extent would there be a growth in technology? Would we be seeing Roman Steam engines in AD 100? Electricty in AD 200? Would they develop automobiles? Sewing machines? Or would there be no significant jump in technology? The impact on history would have been less great if Romans could sew clothes at a faster rate, compared to having steam engines transporting people across the Empire.

 

There are all sorts of problems you encounter when trying to tackle a question like this. But, perhaps it's better that Romans didn't make the necessary step to becoming industrialized. Perhaps their society, would have imploded under the strain of the changes, both technological and political that would have come with an industrial revolution. Then again, if they would have been successful...we might have had a better future.

[Northern Neil]

I think the systems were in place already, with the transport system, the state run factories of the late empire, and citizens reduced to bonded labour on the great estates. Had events of the 5th century not been as far reaching, and Persia/the Arab Caliphate ended their wasteful wars with the eastern empire, this could have happened round about 700, perhaps. This would also be dependent on the Church not sticking its oar in, given that the scientific enquiry of classical times was frowned upon by eastern and western churches.

[Gaius Octavius]

This would also be dependent on the Church not sticking its oar in, given that the scientific enquiry of classical times was frowned upon by eastern and western churches.

 

How?

[Antiochus of Seleucia]

The church was an expensive institution, and as we can clearly see through the ages, frowned upon all sort of scientific expansion.