Final answer:
The true arch revolutionized Roman architecture by allowing for stronger, larger, and more expansive structures such as the Pantheon. With its voussoirs and keystone design, the true arch distributed weight effectively, enabling constructions like aqueducts and domes. Roman architects utilized true arches combined with concrete to dramatically reshape interior and exterior spaces.
Step-by-step explanation:
The true arch was an architectural innovation that the Romans exploited to create more durable and expansive structures. Unlike a corbeled arch, a true arch consists of wedge-shaped stones known as voussoirs, with the central stone being the keystone. The key function of the true arch is to distribute weight from the top of the arch to the ground, allowing for the construction of larger spaces. This innovation enabled the Romans to span greater distances compared to post-and-lintel systems, construct impressive vaults and domes such as the Pantheon, and build taller buildings and aqueducts like the Pont-du-Gard, featuring linear series of arches called arcades.
Roman architects, a group with diverse backgrounds including Emperor Hadrian, utilized the true arch in conjunction with concrete to create buildings that could go higher and offer vast interior spaces without requiring extensive external supports. As a result, Roman architecture was as breathtaking on the inside as it was impressive on the outside. The significance of the true arch in Roman construction cannot be overstated; it allowed a new level of architectural expression and function that characterized Roman building techniques.