1. The Flooding of the Tiber River
Spencer Pfundstein
“All these fertile plains will be blotted out of sight by a sudden overflowing of the sea, or the subsiding of the land will sweep them away suddenly into the abyss” – Seneca

2. The city by the river Theaters and forum would be flooded
Homes located by the river faced the largest threat
Public buildings spared, built on hills, wealthy also built here

3. What is a flood? Naturally occurring
Commonplace for areas by rivers and the sea
Beneficial for fertility of the land (Nile River!)
First major flood recorded in 241BCE by Oros
Floods got more severe as time went on, due to the growth of Rome, as well as increased environmental manipulation
But most importantly…
The impact of a flood is lessened by the land’s natural defenses!
Flooding occurred before the Roman Empire: losses minimal to those who aren’t on the riverbed
Severe rainstorms overflowed the river: would affect those living in the floodplains

4. Deforestation The root of the problem
Trees absorb water, and prevent major flooding upstream
When trees are removed, erosion occurs
Without trees, rocks and silt are swept away in the floods
The more the land was stripped away, the worse the flooding became
Protection from upstream were removed, flooding can occur from all areas of the river
Deforestation is difficult to overturn, so protection is permanently removed

5. When it rains, it pours (and floods)
Cassius describes the damages of a storm in 60BCE:
“Such a storm descended on the whole city and all the country that quantities of trees were torn up by the roots, many houses were shattered, the boats moored in the Tiber both near the city and at its mouth were sunk… in the midst of all this great numbers of human beings perished.”
Important buildings were flood-proofed with concrete and bricks. They were also located on much higher ground
Not much has changed in 2,000 years. Water ravages buildings and the landscape. If anything, damage has gotten worse, due to population growth, leading to more construction
People lived in low lying areas
Homes were built out of wood and stone: could easily be washed away
Rescue operations are easier today: helicopters, advanced warnings, etc.
Cities growing still, so even less natural defenses are present, so damages increase financially, while loss of life is easier to prevent

6. Urban problems revisited
Rome had a great method of waste management for its day, at least when it wasn’t raining too much.
Sewers carried waste through the Tiber River
Waste was NOT treated
Flooding led to an overflow of the sewers, which filled the streets with contaminated water
Poorer citizens located in lower elevations
Pantheon’s drain “became” a fountain
Disease spread by contaminated water

7. Tying it back to the themes
HUBRIS
The city of Rome continued to be built on low-lying land: poor planning
Cassius believed there was a divine power causing the flooding
Nature taking its course
Continued expansion, despite witnessing the effects of flooding on lower elevations
The city naturally can’t support many people once the hills are all built upon

8. Creative Activity Time!
2nd image
3rd image
1st image
In Rome, Levees and reservoirs were common, as well as drains throughout the city
A. Sea Wall B. Levee C. Dam D. Hurricane Katrina E. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900
For A, B, & C, match the image to the method of flood control! For D & E, match the storm to the method of flood control that failed.

9. Outside Sources
Aldrete, G.S., 2007. Floods of the Tiber in ancient Rome / Gregory S. Aldrete., Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Environmental impacts of dredging on seagrasses: A review. (2006, October 31). Retrieved April 05, 2018, from
The Civilization Of Ancient Rome. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2018, from
Will New Orleans' $14.5 Billion Walls Stand Up to the Next Big Storm? (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2018, from
Mini Hoover Dam Bus & Helicopter Tour. (n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2018, from for Hoover Dam
(n.d.). Retrieved April 09, 2018, from 2.htmSea Wall image