Work

Settlement scaling theory, aqueducts and the Roman Empire

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Despite contemporary relevance in understanding how cities historically overcame demographic, social and economic constraints imposed by the lack of clean, fresh water, the value of estimating aqueduct delivery rates and their potential relationship with population size in the Roman Empire remains uncertain. Here, the authors use settlement scaling theory to examine recent statistics for city size and aqueduct capacity, revealing a systematic but sublinear relationship between these variables, whereby water supply increased at a slower rate than population size. Far from merely ostentatious displays of power, aqueducts were carefully planned to ensure an adequate supply of clean and fresh water.

Source: Antiquity

DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2026.10296

Authors: J.W. Hanson, Duncan Keenan-Jones, Davide Motta

Institutions: University of Oxford, University of Manchester, University College London

Language: English

Topic: Water management and technologies

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550