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Roman roads were of several kinds, ranging from small local roads to broad, long-distance highways built to connect cities, major towns and military bases. These major roads were often stone-paved and metaled, cambered for drainage, and were flanked by footpaths, bridleways and drainage ditches.
Roman road system, outstanding transportation network of the ancient Mediterranean world, extending from Britain to the Tigris-Euphrates river system and from the Danube River to Spain and northern Africa. In all, the Romans built 50,000 miles (80,000 km) of hard-surfaced highway, primarily for.
The first and most famous great Roman road was the Via Appia (or Appian Way). Constructed from 312 BCE and covering 196 km (132 Roman miles), it linked Rome to Capua in as straight a line as possible and was known to the Romans as the Regina viarum or 'Queen of Roads'.
Roman roads served an array of strategic purposes that were critical to the formation and longevity of the Empire. Primarily, they were constructed for military needs. The Romans recognized that in order to defend their sprawling empire, quick and efficient troop movement was imperative.
The famous Appian Way, an ancient Roman road in Rome. The Roman road network was the backbone of both the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Easy-to-use, well-built, and maintained roads meant that traveling across the vast Roman territory was relatively easy and straightforward.
This detailed atlas provides a fascinating glimpse into the extensive Roman road network, showcasing major routes, distances between cities, landmarks, and even the names of those responsible for road construction and maintenance.
Some roads built by the Romans are still in use today. There were several variations on a standard Roman road. Most of the higher quality roads were composed of five layers. The bottom layer, called the pavimentum, was one inch thick and made of mortar. Above this were four strata of masonry.
Roman road construction followed a standardized process that ensured durability and longevity. The first step was to survey and plan the route of the road, taking into account factors such as terrain, water sources, and the location of existing settlements.
Roman roads were built by first setting the curb stones, digging a long pit between them that was the entire width of the road, and then covering it with rocks or gravel. The layer of gravel was compacted and a layer of finer gravel was added. The road was then paved with large polygonal rock slabs.
The first major Roman road—the famed Appian Way, or “queen of the roads”—was constructed in 312 B.C. to serve as a supply route between republican Rome and its allies in Capua during the...