Roman roads were one of ancient Rome’s major achievements. The ancient Romans built a road system of more than 152,000 miles (245,000 kilometers). The system stretched from Britain in the west to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the east. To the north, the roads reached the Danube River, and to the south, they went as far as North Africa. Many Roman roads still exist, and some have been incorporated into modern roads and highways.
A Roman official named Appius Claudius Caecus ordered the building of the first Roman road in Italy in 312 B.C. It was called the Via Appia (Appian Way) and originally connected Rome to Tarentum (now Taranto) in southeastern Italy. It was later extended as far as the Adriatic coastline. In the next 100 years, the Romans built the Via Aurelia, the Via Flaminia, the Via Valeria, and the Via Latina, all leading out from Rome. Other roads branched off these main highways. In time, an intricate road network developed, centered on the empire’s capital city and connecting it with its provinces. This gave rise to the proverb, “All roads lead to Rome.”
Based on a succession of hubs, the road system evolved throughout the Roman Empire. For instance, Lyon, the provincial capital of Gaul, was the hub of a road network that extended northeast to the Rhine River, northwest to the English Channel, and west to Bordeaux. In Britain, the Romans made their headquarters in what is now London. From there they advanced north and west, building roads as they went. Thus, London became the hub of another road network.
There were three types of Roman roads: those consisting of leveled earth; earth roads with a graveled surface; and roads with a top layer of stone or lava. Roman engineers, probably inspired by the Etruscans, generally built roads in straight lines. The roads went over hills rather than around them. They did not have snakelike curves, as many modern roads do.
To construct a stone road, the Romans first filled a ditch with gravel, rubble, and stone, sometimes adding a layer of sand. Over this they placed a layer of coarse concrete, then a layer of finer concrete. The finer concrete may have been mixed with volcanic ash to make the road more weather-resistant. The top layer consisted of paving stones shaped to allow water to run off to the side of the road. The Romans erected milestones along the route of the road. Officials and emperors who funded road construction had plaques erected to commemorate their contributions.
The Romans built roads for three main reasons—to move troops, for official communication, and for trade. The roads made the conquest and control of Roman provinces easier. The Roman postal system could carry messages from Britain to Rome in as little as three weeks. The roads also made Rome more prosperous, because merchants and traders could move about freely and transport their goods easily. For the ease of travelers, the Romans built inns, hostels, and horse-changing stations along their roads.
Roman roads showed off the ancient Romans’ technological skill. The excellence of the Roman road system was a major factor in holding the empire together.
See also Appian Way ; Road (History of roads and highways) ; Rome, Ancient .
