# History of the Cement Industry
Early forms of cement have been used as far back as the ancient Egyptians, who combined lime and gypsum, and the Babylonians, who used clay. Though both were a far cry from the modern forms of cement, they were the starting point for the development of this widely-used construction material. It was not until the early 1800s that cement evolved into the standard mixes used today.
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The Romans
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The Romans combined volcanic ash and lime to creat a cement mixture which they discovered could be used under water. The mixture became known as Pozzolanic cement, named after the village of Pozzuoli.
Portland Cement
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In 1824, Joseph Aspdin took out a patent for Portland cement, which is a mixture of finely-ground clay and limestone. The name comes from the similarity of this cement to the Portland stone, which is a popular building stone used in England.
Isaac Johnson
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According to cement manufacturer Cimenterie Nationale, in 1838 Isaac Johnson created a more modern mix of Portland cement that is closer to what is used today. The change that he made to the cement was burning the material at a much higher temperature until it was nearly vitrified.
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Architecture
- The History of Webbing Stretchers
- The History of Stenciling
- The History of Poole Pottery
- History of the Bulldozer
- The History of Sunflower Seeds
- The History of Gutters
- The History of Chimney Pots
- History of the Wing Chair
- History of the Lazy Susan
- The History of Sandblasting
- The History of Sage Herbs
- The History of Dome Homes
