Roman Roads

History, Facts and Information - Importance of Roman Roads
The construction of the Ancient Roman roads were of major importance to the Romans and their vast Empire. The roads allowed fast and easy access and a vital communication network across hundreds of miles of territory.
 

The building of the Roman roads provided the means for faster travel stretching approximately 51,000 miles across the Empire. It is therefore not surprising that we still repeat the saying 'All roads led to Rome". The map shows the territories and provinces of the Roman Empire 395AD, illustrating the tremendous achievement of building the network of Roman roads.

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Ancient History, Facts and information about Roman Roads *** The times and people of Ancient Rome *** The society, culture and life of the Romans *** Roman Roads *** Building roads across the empire *** Ancient Roman Roads of Britain *** Ancient history, facts and interesting information about the Romans *** Fosse Way, Ermine Street and Watling Street

Roman Roads

Facts about Roman Roads
Who built the Roads? The soldiers of the Roman army travelled all across the Empire by necessity and provided all of the required labour. The roads were built as follows:

Fact 1: Roads were generally laid out in a straight line, although sometimes they followed the natural curves of the terrain

Fact 2: Ancient surveying techniques using 'Sighting Marks' were employed

Fact 3: The land was first cleared of any trees

Fact 4: A trench was dug where the road was to go which was then filled with big stones creating an embankment

Fact 5: Roman roads were generally built on top of an embankment (called an Agger)
Romans were the first to build roads on this foundation basis *** The foundation, or Agger, contained a layer of rubble with stones which were laid in such a way to provide drainage

Fact 6: A middle section which consisted of a layer of sand or gravel was laid on the foundation

Fact 7: The top surface were paved with gravel or flint and small broken stones

Fact 8: There were ditches on either side so that water could drain away

Fact 9: Road widths measured between 8 and 40 feet - wide enough to take a Roman chariot with two horses. There were even lay-bys allowing other chariots past!

Roman Roads in Britain
Many miles of roads were built by the Romans in Britain. The first great ancient road to be built in Britain was called the 'Fosse Way'. The Fosse Way extended from Exeter to Lincoln, passing through the towns of Bath, Gloucester, and Leicester. Ermine Street was the name of the Roman road that ran from London to Lincoln and York. The third major Roman road in Britain was called Watling Street which ran from London to Shrewsbury, in central England. Some of the main London roads of today still follow the routes of the first great ancient Roman Roads. The ancient Roman Silchester Road is today followed by Oxford Street, Bayswater Road and Notting Hill.

Roman Roads
The content of this Roman Roads category on life in Ancient Rome provides free educational details, facts and information for reference and research for schools, colleges and homework. Refer to the Colosseum Sitemap for a comprehensive search on interesting different categories containing the history, facts and information about Ancient Rome. Just like the subject of Roman Roads there is hardly a page of Roman history and the Romans that is not, on some way, connected to the Roman Colosseum which became a symbol of Rome, its society, culture and life.

Ancient History, Facts and information about Roman Roads *** The times and people of Ancient Rome *** The society, culture and life of the ancient Romans *** Roman Roads *** Building roads across the empire *** Ancient Roman Roads of Britain *** Ancient history, facts and interesting information about the Romans *** Fosse Way, Ermine Street and Watling Street

Roman Roads

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Roman Roads