You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
alternatehistory.com
A while ago there was a thread about an Industrial Roman Empire (surprising, last one before that was 4 years ago!) and what got me thinking was people posting links for many mechanisms that used water and wind power, mostly for grinding grain but it got me thinking what if the Roman Empire wasn't necessarily industrialized but had heavily used water and wind powered mechanics to do things similar to what was done in 18th century Netherlands to pump water out and stop swamping. One such Idea I had (coming from the dutch drainage mechanisms I just mentioned) was for wind powered stations to lift water in an Aqueduct to a higher position into an aqueduct at a higher level allowing for a much larger range that aqueducts can go before they get too low to the ground.
Maybe an Architect could come up with the idea for basic cable cars/boats along the Tiber maybe?
Perhaps they could build Dams in low rain areas around the Mediterranean and use those for water powered grain mills as well as for reservoir?
While talks of an Industrialized Roman Empire are fun and all I think they would at least need to go through a period of extensive wind and water power or at least it would help get them into the mindset needed to have an Industrial revolution.