Though modern concrete may differ from some of the forms of ancient concrete, it has nevertheless been around for millenia, and the uses of it throughout the years isn’t vastly different from some of the things we use it for today. Originating in the Middle East, concrete production and use gradually made its way into the Western world. Keep reading on to learn more about how this occurred.
Syria and Jordan 6,500 BC
The earliest evidence of concrete-like structures were built by the Nabataea traders in the regions of Syria and Jordan. They went on to discover the advantages of hydraulic lime, a form of natural cement that hardens underwater, which allowed them to build underground waterproof cisterns – one of the reasons they were able to thrive in desert conditions.
Egypt and China 3,000 BC
In ancient Egypt, bricks were formed by mixing together mud and straw, although this is more similar to adobe than concrete. They also used gypsum and lime mortars in building the pyramids, which made up the bedding of the cast stones used on the surface.
Around the same time, a form of cement was being used in China to build the Great Wall. It has been confirmed that a key ingredient used in the mortar that binds the concrete blocks of the Great Wall together, along with other ancient Chinese structures, is glutinous, sticky rice.
Rome 200 BC
Though concrete did not originate here, the Romans were very proficient with using concrete and used it extensively from 300 BC to 476 AC. Their concrete was made by mixing pozzolana (volcanic dust and ash materials, which was discovered by the Greeks to develop hydraulic properties when mixed with lime), quicklime and pumice aggregates. These were used in many of their buildings, such as homes and walls.
For their grander structures and structures that required more durability, they used naturally reactive volcanic sand, which would hydrate then solidify into a rock-like mass upon contact with lime and water, making it a truly strong and lasting binding agent that makes Roman concrete so successful. It is this material that was used in some of the most famous Roman structures, such as the Pantheon, the Colosseum and the Roman Baths.
Modern Day
Most of the concrete that is in circulation and used today is made with Portland cement. This was invented in 1824 by an Englishman named Joseph Aspdin, named so since it resembled the high-quality building stones found on the Isle of Portland in Dorset. He refined his method for making this cement by meticulously proportioning limestone and clay, pulverising them, then burning this mixture into a clinker (whereby the carbon dioxide is removed) and grinding this into a cement.
This will be the kind of mixture that you receive in bags of ready mix cement today.
If you’re in need of high-quality ready mix cement or concrete blocks for your building project, then you need Forth Valley Concrete. Get in touch with us today for your free quote.