I know this is a joke/meme, but I sincerely think of the Roman Empire a surprising amount of times. I find myself obsessing over how Roman citizens were living just as complex lives as we are today, or about Marcus Aurelius’ life and philosophy, or about how the Republic fell and became a totalitarian state.
The aqueduct?
Alright, alright… Apart from sanitation, medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh water system, and public health… what have the Romans ever done for us?
Brought peace.
Via imperialism. Then, when their enormous military became too expensive, their empire crumpled. Or maybe it was the lead pipes.