Steam tanks in the Roman legions?

Did you know the Heron of Alexandria, a scientist, in 100 BC almost invented the steam machine? and if he succeeded? And most importantly, if a Roman emperor like, let's say Hadrian, in one of his travels, discovered this old but extraordinary invention? Would we have seen steam tanks? And, would the Empire collapse anyway?

Francinze wrote:Did you know the Heron of Alexandria, a scientist, in 100 BC almost invented the steam machine? and if he succeeded? And most importantly, if a Roman emperor like, let's say Hadrian, in one of his travels, discovered this old but extraordinary invention? Would we have seen steam tanks? And, would the Empire collapse anyway?

My understanding was that they did succeed, but only used the steam engine to open temple doors, venting the steam out near the "magic" self-opening doors to impress the faithful. Not sure who's temple it was...

Yes, I think Rome declined and fell for economic and political reasons, not for a lack of technological superiority.

Slaves are a lot more efficient than steam engines. They made it, but it really had no use in an industrial sense for them.

Steam SHIPS on the other hand... I mean, there's a technology the Romans could have really used. You can't beat steam ships for speed and sailing in adverse winds. A fast fleet of greek-fire spewing steam ships might have made Constantinople the London of the Middle Ages. In fact, it's difficult to imagine anyone without them ever attacking the city, since they'd have to cross through a cordon of such vessels to reach the European side of the Bosporus or Dardanelles...