Thursday, April 4, 2013

Roman Roads and Infrastructure


“All roads lead to Rome” is a well-known colloquial saying that seems metaphorical, yet throughout the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire Rome was the center of an advanced infrastructure system that spanned from Britain to Egypt and from the Carpathian Mountains to the Pillars of Hercules. Over 50,000 miles of paved roads spanned across the Mediterranean and Europe during the last Century B.C. to the decline of the Western Roman Empire during the 4th and 5th centuries A.D., when a lack of maintenance led to many roads falling into disrepair. Despite this, the durable building style of the Roman roadways allowed many of them to survive until modern day. Indeed, in many places around Europe (most prominently Italy and France), Roman roads are still used today.
The bulk of the building of was done by the Empire’s full time soldiers, although some additional work was carried out by private workers or slaves. To build the road straight and in the right direction, the Roman surveyors used a tool known as a groma to measure a straight line. (A picture is shown to the left.) When building the roadway, the workers first dug down to either hard packed dirt or base rock. Sand would sometimes be added to make the road more stable. In muddy or boggy places, animal skins and bundles of sticks would often be placed to prevent the road from sinking. After this, layers of crushed rock would be piled on, followed by gravel and mortar. Then a layer of concrete was laid on. The Roman mixture of concrete was made of volcanic ash, hydrate lime, and various rocks, and proved very strong. Finally, smooth stones were placed on top with a slight crown for drainage, and set in such a way that they fit together well. The roads were bordered with a stone curb, and drainage ditches were usually on the side (although some designs have drainage ditches in the center). In all, the roads’ base layers were a few feet deep and of varying widths, usually from 20 to 40 feet wide. Archaeological evidence near Pompeii has also suggested that the Romans put many white seashells between the stones on the road to reflect the moonlight at night, allowing travelers to see the outline of the roadway after dark. Furthermore, the Roman roads were the superior transportation system that surpassed even most modern American roads up until the early 20th Century. Overall, the roads were built to be durable and ensure quick travel across the Empire.
At the height of the Roman Empire, it is estimated that one could travel across the length of the Empire in just a few months, a distance of a few thousand miles. The infrastructure was also utilized by the military and government on a large scale. The advanced roadways allowed armies to move quickly and efficiently, and news was able to travel quickly. The Legions could move swiftly around the Empire to respond to any threat. Throughout the late Roman Republic and Roman Empire, roads served the military first and foremost, yet there were also many fiscal benefits through improved trade. Foreign and exotic goods were able to make their way to the heart of the empire with great speed. From silver and wool being brought in from Britain, to cotton, spices, silk, slaves and exotic animals from the near east, Africa, and Asia, the Roman infrastructure allowed for goods from all across the Eastern Hemisphere to be available in the central Mediterranean.
The infrastructure of the Romans was not limited to their paved roads. Romans also had running water in their cities and public bath houses, both of which were supplied by aqueducts, which brought water down from natural springs. These ancient plumbing systems still exist in many places today. The Romans’ resourcefulness, ingenuity, and efficiency were realized in many infrastructure projects. Bridges were also designed to be very secure and durable. A bridge over the Danube River shown on Trajan’s column had a wooded structure that was supported by a score of stone piers. Many Roman bridges were built using stone arches and concrete, including the Alcántra Bridge in western Spain, which still stands today. (A photograph is shown to the left.) To build the bridges, wooden frames were constructed, and then stones were placed with mortar. During the Gallic Wars between 55 and 53 B.C., Caesar built two bridges across the Rhine River near the modern day Alsace region in France. These were built out of wood, yet were very sturdy and durable. The speed with which these bridges were assembled, and their physically stable design, proved to be a great engineering feat for the time.
Moreover, the Roman infrastructure helped commerce to efficiently flow across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, allowed military forces and envoys to travel quickly, and provided a durable transportation system for even the average Roman plebeian. The simple fact that many of these structures survive to modern day (many in working order) is a testament to the mechanical inventiveness and prowess of the ancient Romans. The structures were built not just to last, but to endure.

Works Cited:
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Connolly, Peter. “The Roman Empire: The Empire 140 BC-AD 200, Part 4: The Army in the Field.” Greece and Rome at War. 4th ed.                 Chicago: Frontline, 2012. 240. Print.
"Infrastructure - Ancient Rome." Ancient Rome. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2013.                 <http://apworldromehistory.weebly.com/infrastructure.html>.
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Images:
Accessed 30 Mar. 2013.
                <http://glenway.net/Students/Matthew/Reflection/Ancient%20Rome_files/image003.jpg>.
Accessed 30 Mar. 2013.
                <http://www.dl.ket.org/latin3/mores/techno/roads/images/rd_map_color.gif>.
Accessed 30 Mar. 2013.
                <http://travelswithnancy.com/EarlyRome/EarlyRomeImages/Technology/Groma.jpg>.
Accessed 3 April 2013.
                <http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Bridge_Alcantara.JPG/300px-Bridge_Alcantara.JPG>.

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