Roman Roads
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 different factors, however, arguably the greatest advantage that the Romans had was, in fact, their roads. Also known as Viae, Roman soldiers created comprehensive stone roads that connected the whole continent. These vast highways spanned over 53,000 miles, and stretched all across Europe. The Roman Roads were the empire`s greatest achievements due to their benefits to the military, impact on the economy and trade, and the significant impact it had on the rise of Christianity and the transformation of European civilization.
In retrospect, the Romans’ road building system was nothing short of incredible. The method of construction was inherited from the times of Ancient Italy, or the Etruscan Era. The roads had many different levels, starting with a foundation of compacted sand or dry earth, then a layer of crushed rock. Once the crushed rock was laid out, two layers of cement were then piled on top of that: one smooth layer and one mixed with rocks. Finally, large stone slabs were placed on top of the cement to complete the process. The roads were also slightly concaved, with a drainage ditch on each side to prevent water damage. The actual construction was executed by the Roman Armed Forces. Among the chief officers there
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 different factors, however, arguably the greatest advantage that the Romans had was, in fact, their roads. Also known as Viae, Roman soldiers created comprehensive stone roads that connected the whole continent. These vast highways spanned over 53,000 miles, and stretched all across Europe. The Roman Roads were the empire`s greatest achievements due to their benefits to the military, impact on the economy and trade, and the significant impact it had on the rise of Christianity and the transformation of European civilization.
In retrospect, the Romans’ road building system was nothing short of incredible. The method of construction was inherited from the times of Ancient Italy, or the Etruscan Era. The roads had many different levels, starting with a foundation of compacted sand or dry earth, then a layer of crushed rock. Once the crushed rock was laid out, two layers of cement were then piled on top of that: one smooth layer and one mixed with rocks. Finally, large stone slabs were placed on top of the cement to complete the process. The roads were also slightly concaved, with a drainage ditch on each side to prevent water damage. The actual construction was executed by the Roman Armed Forces. Among the chief officers there