The Roman Roads

“It is often said that ‘all roads lead to Rome,’ and in fact, they once did. The road system of the Ancient Romans was one of the greatest engineering accomplishments of its time, with over 50,000 miles of paved road radiating from their center at the miliarius aurem in the Forum in the city of Rome. Although the Roman road system was originally built to facilitate the movement of troops throughout the empire, it was inevitably used for other purposes by civilians then and now.” (source)

“The Romans were the first ancient civilization to build paved roads.” (source) These roads “connected the various kingdoms and countries within their empire to the empire’s capital, Rome.” (Hicks 238) One of the features of the roads were that they “were crowned—that is, they were higher in the middle than on the sides to allow water to run off—and they often had gutters for drainage along the shoulders. Probably the most incredible engineering feat concerning the Roman road system, though, is how well the roads were built. Many are still major thoroughfares for cars today!” (source)

“Good roads are crucial for any advancing army; the Romans understood this implicitly. These cobbled lifelines ferried reinforcements and supplies to the outposts of the Empire. Without them, it's unlikely the Romans would have ever expanded past the Mediterranean shores.” (source) The roads were a big part of getting the Roman army to and from places quickly. They would be slowed down considerably if they had to walk through gravel and mud. (Millard 86)

However, the military was not the only user of the roads. Ordinary citizens and the postmen, bringing people their mail, traveled these roads daily. Most people who used the roads walked, but “a wealthy merchant could afford a wagon pulled by horses. The roads were built so that two of these wagons could pass on both sides of the roads.” (source) People came to Rome to trade and be part of the markets and activities. For example, the exotic animals used in the gladiatorial games were imported, and they used them a lot! In order to get the animals there, people had to travel the roads. (source)

Even though the Roman roads were traveled daily 2,000 years ago, many are still in decent shape. This is amazing! “Military might is the Roman Empire's most distinguishing characteristic. However, the civilization's most enduring legacy is definitely its roads.” (source)



Works Cited

Hicks, Laurel Elizabeth. Old World History & Geography in Christian Perspective. U.S.A., A Beka Book. 1999.

Millard, Dr. Anne and Patricia Vanags. The Usborne Book of World History. London, England: Usborne Publishing Ltd. 1985.