Roman Roads

The saying goes, “All roads lead to Rome,” but do you know why?

Roman roads were a crucial part of ancient Rome’s infrastructure. Their construction began around 500 BC and expanded with the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire. These roads provided convenient transportation routes for the Roman army, officials, and civilians, and greatly facilitated overland communication and trade. They connected local paths to vast, long-distance highways, linking major towns and military bases. Roman roads were primarily paved with stone, with some sections incorporating metallic materials. The roads were constructed with a curved surface and raised pedestrian walkways to aid drainage. Besides sidewalks, the sides of the roads also featured bridle paths and drainage ditches. The construction of Roman roads relied on precise surveying, involving cutting through hillsides, building bridges over rivers and ravines, and using wooden piles to support foundations in wet areas.

At the peak of Rome’s power, over 29 major military highways radiated outward from the capital, connecting to 372 main roads across 113 provinces of the Roman Empire. The total length exceeded 400,000 kilometers, of which 80,500 kilometers were paved. In Gaul alone, there were over 21,000 kilometers of roads, and in Britain, at least 4,000 kilometers of Roman roads. Local paths connected to extensive, long-distance highways, linking major towns and military bases. This provided convenient transportation for the army, officials, and civilians, promoted trade, and, crucially, paved the way for the widespread dissemination of the Gospel.