The ancient Roman watermill complex that almost sparked an industrial revolution.

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It is sometimes astounding to see how close the Romans came to some form of industrial revolution. Not only was the steam engine almost invented in Alexandria in the 1st century AD, but the Romans also built an industrial scale flour grinding complex at Barbegal, near the roman city of Arelate in southern Gaul. This incredible complex of 16 water wheels, arranged in two parallel sets of eight, was built such as to harness the full power of water, in order to use the kinetic energy for industrial applications. They were completed in the early 2nd century AD and operated for around 200 years, grinding massive amounts of grain every single day, and thus creating flour which would be baked into bread for the people of Arelate. It is estimated that 4.5 metric tons of flour were grinded there every single day. This was truly an industrial operation, which Europe would not see again in this form for 1500 years. But even though the spark of the industrial revolution did not manage to materialize in the Roman empire, it is said that the benedictine monks preserved and cultivated this ancient art of watermilling, inventing ever more elaborate uses of hydro energy, which would then in the 18th century britain contribute to the industrial revolution. So even though the Romans failed to industrialize, they were really quite close, and with a big delay, their knowledge contributed to our industrial revolution 1500 years later.