Roman Roads:
An Empire Connected
LVV4U1
December 16, 2013
“Man has always moved along a road. It’s just what the road has looked like that’s changed over time” (Dan McNichol). Some would say that the legacy of the Roman Empire is viewed as the foundation of civilization, having influenced every aspect of modern society, from literature to mathematics. Even today, Roman law and foundation of government forms the basis of several modern democracies. The ancient Empire`s monuments still stand millennia later, awing and inspiring us. Rome 's extraordinary achievements and the unparalleled string of influential people shaped the whole of Europe and even the rest of the world. Philosophers blame the success of the Empire on many
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Secondly, the construction of the roads greatly amplified the strength and stamina of the Roman soldiers. Augustus, the first Roman emperor, made it a policy that the soldiers were to keep busy, and therefore stay out of trouble, which meant that all of the free time that the soldiers had was utilized in the maintenance and the construction of the roads. Through the construction of the roads, the Romans became infamous for their strength and stamina, and were viewed across Europe as a deadly force to be reckoned with.
`It is no easy task to confine luxury within the limits of an empire. The most remote countries of the ancient world were ransacked to supply the pomp and delicacy of Rome` (Gibbon, 75). In addition to strengthening the military, the Roman roads also had numerous economic benefits. With over 53,000 miles of paved roads spanning across Europe, the Roman Empire was much more connected, and travel was considerably easier. This led to Rome becoming the centre of trade across Europe, with exotic goods coming in from every corner of the world. Aelius Aristides, a famous orator, is quoted to have said: ` Large continents lie around the Mediterranean Sea and never-ending supplies of goods flow from them to you [the Roman people]. Everything from every land and every sea is shipped to you . . . so that if anyone wanted to see all these things he would either have to travel the world or live in Rome. ` (La Bédoyère, 104). This statement was
It all started in the invasion of Britain; the Roman army was forced into using old grass and mud track trails the Britons created, Roman Roads describes the roads as “Track ways that were sometimes thousands of years old and often went up and down hills for reasons that nobody could remember.” To add, the Roman legions needed new roads to move quicker to areas of trouble in Britain to keep them under control, and Roman generals also needed better roads to relay orders from soldiers stationed as far away as Hadrian’s wall. Good roads meant better trade on land making Rome and it’s emperor richer from taxes. Roman soldiers were given the task of planning and building roads, Roman Roads implies that “Roads did not always run perfectly straight, and they sometimes zig-zagged up hills and avoided obstacles, but the long stretches of roman roads that ran straight were the ones they remember today. These roman roads were so straight due to an instrument called the Groma, a pair of boards stuck together in a cross-shaped figure. Which had lines with weights hung from each corner to get a straight line by lining the weights with a pole a hundred meters away. They then dug ditches from each side to take the role of the drains, the earth from the ditches would be piled into the center and rammed down into a flat shape. Stones were then gathered and laid down into multiple layers as the means
Both Rome and Han China equivalently constructed similar roads, bridges, and water development systems all to strengthen their economy. Verifications of this can be seen when Rome fully realized the potential of arches and bridges in their road systems that spanned more than 400,000 km of roads that were used for trade. Correspondingly, they also built aqueducts as a form of water engineering to constantly bring in a flow of water to the cities and towns. Similarly, Han China built massive fortified roadways for trade and walls for fortification comparable to the Great Wall of China as a means of defense. Also in comparison to Roman aqueducts, Han China built water canals as means to direct water as they pleased. These similarities defined their engineering skills as these inventions and constructions were used to help strengthen their economies. Rome built and constructed roads to aid their trade systems and make easier routes of travel. Furthermore, they used aqueducts to get water into the city saving money and the need for human labor. Similarly, Han China used their fortified roads to trade much easier and as a means of safer travel. This went hand in hand with China’s water canals that also aided their economy by directing water where needed saving much money and limiting the need for human labor as well.
As Western Rome expanded past the Mediterranean, it’s foreign prospects dwindled. As a result,
It is commonly believed that the Roman Empire fell in 476 C.E. when barbarians invaded Rome, sent the last emperor of Western Rome into exile, political instability, too much land, and many other faults in their system, but did it fully fall? Anyone who visits this topic can argue that Ancient Rome never actually fell. In Crash Course: Fall of the Roman Empire, John Green said, "In some ways, [the Roman Empire] still survives today." This quote means that the Roman Empire didn’t actually fall fully, but still survives in present days. This essay will show how the Roman Empire still lives today in engineering and architecture, and in language and writing.
1. Although trade and travel were very important for Rome, trading and traveling had weakened after the fall of the Roman Empire. Traveling and especially trade were used to communicate with other countries and create a better economy. When the Roman Empire fell, so t =did the trading because of the lack of government and protection.
The Romans engaged in various forms of public works, whether constructing amphitheaters or aqueducts, the Romans funded infrastructure all across the Empire. Aqueducts greatly improved water supplies, roads made trade and travel easier, amphitheaters spread Roman culture, and military fortresses protect Rome and its people. The Romans contribution to local infrastructure all but insured their
Great roads were made throughout Etruria and Campania which suggest that the Augustus desire for a more unified people was slowly becoming reality and with the spread of the roads so it would seem that roman culture and influence
Was it true that all roads lead to Rome? Many historians say that the Roman Empire was the most outstanding empire in history because they were huge and populated. There were many great leaders in the Roman Empire, but Julius Caesar was one that stood out the most. Caesar installed many progressive changes and military conquests to help Rome thrive. Julius Caesar was the most outstanding emperor and conqueror for the Romans in 100 BCE because he had a strong military, led the Romans to many victories, many people thought different about him, and the other countries were intimidated by his incredible power.
The fourth factor was the amazing engineers, inventors, and architects in the Empire. By 200 AD the Romans had built 53,000 miles of roads throughout the Empire. The very first was built in 312 BC. They also invented sewers, central heating systems, and the first types of concrete. (Mahoney, 2001)
In addition, to the Roman government, the modern world has been influenced by Roman architecture as well. In every country and every state these days you will find roads or some type of paved road system. This derived from early Roman architectures. The Romans were the first to set up a highly advanced concrete road system that would aide in traveling. Although not as sophisticated as today's roads, the concrete used was not much different from what is used today. In fact the Roman constructed roads are still intact today. Along with road
Because Augustus encouraged trade, many roads and highways were built for convenient traveling. Trading made easier increased trade, which boosted Roman economy even more.
The Roman Empire conquered land at a previously unparalleled rate, within the known world, affecting its institutions from the rest of the Empire’s prevalence. From Hispania to Britannia sweeping across the mediterranean, gaining Egypt, ending in Persia; the absorption of Carthage and North Africa, and finally the civil war being won by Augustus, all brought upon the negative effects of their conquest. The Empire continued to grow from the year 200 B.C.E. to the year 200 C.E.; this growth had many effects upon the Empire. Although expansion and conquest are often good, seen as liberating, or wholly expansive in mathematical, philosophic, and scientific thought, this is not inherently the case. The Roman Empire’s expansion was not entirely as powerful and awe inspiring as many claim it to be; the greedily performed collection of lands resulted in many negative outcomes. These outcomes largely presented Rome with an issue they would never be able to recover from: empiric decay. The effects of militaristic expansion, of the Roman Empire, resulted in the decay of previously prosperous economic, political, and social institutions.
The era dominated by Roman empire is one the most well-known and influential periods of history, home to famous names from Julius Caesar to Jesus Christ. At its height, Rome’s territory stretched from the Atlantic coastline to the Middle East, reigning over 60 million people, one-fifth of the population of the ancient world. However, the Roman empire’s treatment of their conquered people’s and their own citizens ultimately led to the permanent downfall of Rome.
The Roman Empire left a legacy that still continues to affect people with modern technology. The Romans’ technology might have not been as advanced as modern technology today, but they still managed to caused great impact over the ancient people. The Roman Empire’s inventions and innovations such as indoor plumbing, aqueducts, and construction of roads and buildings with their fast drying will always be notable attention because they managed to acquire extensive progress without modern methods. However, the Romans were not restricted to new inventions, they also managed to improve the existing fields of medicine, law, government and warfare.
Have you ever heard the phrase “all roads lead to Rome”? People in Rome built 29 major highways to the city of Rome. There is about 250,000 miles of road across the Roman Empire. Approximately 50,000 of these roads are stone paved. The roads were made for people, goods, and food to be moved around with ease.