105 ce

Construction

Apollodoros of Damascus [b. c. 50 ce, d. c. 130] builds a famous bridge across the Danube for Roman Emperor Trajan to use in conquering the Dacians (who live in what is now Romania). The depiction of it on the column Trajan erected to commemorate this victory shows that the bridge used a truss, or diagonal, load-bearing member. In time, the truss becomes the foundation of construction, especially in the 19th century, but this is the first recorded use.

Chinese tradition has it that paper is invented by the eunuch Tsai Lun [b. Kueiyand, Kweichow, China, c. 50 ce, d. c. 118]. However, archaeological evidence suggests that paper was invented at least 250 years earlier, although used for packing and other purposes, not for writing upon. See also 140 bce Materials; 110 ce Materials.