Roman bridge building, illustration. The Romans developed bridge-building techniques that were advanced for their time, producing strong, stable and long-lasting structures. Roman bridges used arches and were built with stone. Most also included concrete, which the Romans were the first to use for bridges. Here, the arches are being constructed on supporting scaffolding, and an A-frame (upper right) is being used to lift heavy stone blocks into place. The rectangular bridge piers have been built on foundations sunk into the riverbed. The civilization of Ancient Rome lasted from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD, and at its peak was one of the largest empires of the ancient world.