All Roads Lead to Rome: Roads in the Roman Empire
An ancient proverb says all roads lead to Rome. Today this expression has come to mean that there are many routes that can lead a person to the same place. However in ancient times the adage was more meant literally than not. Over the course of its history, the Roman Empire built a network of roads unprecedented in the ancient world. Approximately fifty thousand miles of roads spanned the Italian Peninsula at the height of the Roman Empire. This impressive road system spread Roman; legions, culture, and influence throughout the known world. With its military and economic might Rome had become the hub of commerce, politics, and culture in the Mediterranean. The crowning achievement of this dominance in the ancient world was the Empires public works; the greatest of these was the road system. These roads enabled economic growth, civilian transportation, and communication; but most importantly they allowed Rome’s armies unprecedented mobility and essentially helped to solidify Rome’s control over its empire. Roman roads were essential to the maintenance and development of the Roman state. With Rome’s founding came the beginning of an organized road system on the Italian peninsula. This early road system would facilitate the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Republic and later Empire. Roads provided an effective way to move large armies, officials and civilians, quickly on land as well as official communications and trade goods. Like todays roads, Roman roads varied in size, ranging from small local roads to broad, long-distance highways built to connect cities, large towns and military bases. Depending on size and location Roman roads were often paved with stone and coupled with drainage ditches, but could also be leveled and compacted dirt. Roman roads were renowned for their straight and surveyed courses.