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Sep 17, 2014 · The Romans did not invent roads, of course, but, as in so many other fields, they took an idea which went back as far as the Bronze Age and extended that concept, daring to squeeze from it the fullest possible potential. The first and most famous great Roman road was the Via Appia (or Appian Way). Constructed from 312 BCE and covering 196 km ...
- Mark Cartwright
Mar 22, 2024 · Ancient Roman road in Portugal. 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 military reasons.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
A Roman street in Pompeii The Roman Empire in the time of Hadrian (r. 117–138), showing the network of main Roman roads. Roman roads (Latin: viae Romanae [ˈwiae̯ roːˈmaːnae̯]; singular: via Romana [ˈwia roːˈmaːna]; meaning "Roman way") were physical infrastructure vital to the maintenance and development of the Roman state, and were built from about 300 BC through the expansion and ...
- They were the key to Rome’s military might. 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 Second Samnite War.
- They were incredibly efficient. Since Roman roads were designed with speed of travel in mind, they often followed a remarkably straight trail across the countryside.
- They were expertly engineered. Roman builders used whatever materials were at hand to construct their roads, but their design always employed multiple layers for durability and flatness.
- They were easy to navigate. This is a 16th-century copy of a 4th-century map attributed to Castorius, covering the road network of the Roman Empire. The image shows two sheets of the eight-sheet map, centered on Rome.
Over two millennia ago, the Romans built a web of roads stretching over 250,000 miles, reaching across three continents. From the rainy highlands of Britain to the sun-soaked sands of Egypt, from the windy Atlantic coast of Iberia to the chilly banks of the Danube, the legacy of Rome was etched into the earth itself. These roads were the arteries of the Empire, carrying soldiers, goods, news ...
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These roads became as famous and well-traveled as those in Rome itself, showcasing the influence and reach of the Roman Empire. The efficiency and durability of the Roman road system played a crucial role in the growth and success of the Empire, leaving a lasting legacy that influenced the development of road systems in subsequent civilizations.
The Appian Way ( Latin and Italian: Via Appia) is one of the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. It connected Rome to Brindisi, in southeast Italy. [1] Its importance is indicated by its common name, recorded by Statius, [2] [3] of Appia longarum... regina viarum ("the Appian Way, the queen of the long ...
