This second contribution was the most important the Romans were not above borrowing technology from others, and they were the first to incorporate all the technological innovations noted above into a single network of roads. The Roman contribution was twofold: they first built drainage ditches alongside their early roads to help maintain them in passable condition in any weather conditions, and they recognized the advances of others. Different cultures made their own unique contributions to road building: the Egyptians were master surveyors, the Greeks excelled at masonry, the Etruscans developed cement-making and paving,Īnd the Cretans were also skilled at paving. In some cases, branches and logs were laid on the ground to ease walking or horse-riding, but little more than this was standard. They were mostly used for trade and, in general, were no more than frequently followed paths with some sort of improvements at river crossings, swamps, and other difficult stretches. Roads have existed in some form for nearly 4,000 years. As the saying went, "All roads lead to Rome," and it was upon its roads that the Roman Empire extended and controlled its vast expanses. One of the factors that made it possible to build, administer, and defend the Roman Empire was its intricate system of roads, which were so well designed and well constructed that they were still in use a millennium after they were first built. At its peak it dominated virtually all of Europe, part of Africa, and most of the Middle East. The Roman Empire was, until the peak of the British Empire, the mightiest empire the world had ever known. Roman Roads: Building, Linking, and Defending the Empire Overview
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