Route systems

The Roman Empire, at its peak, covered almost 1.7 million square miles. The construction of its route systems was one of the main reasons behind its exemplary and successful administration, ensuring a fast and efficient movement of goods, soldiers, and information. With its first major road constructed in 312 BCE, by 200 CE over 50,000 miles of roads were built. Roads were immensely strong, built from a combination of dirt, gravel and bricks made from granite or hardened volcanic lava. Roman engineers followed strict standards when designing their highways, creating straight roads that curved, preventing rain from clogging the road. They were also equipped with highway patrol and the first road signs and mile markers, making them the most sophisticated road system the ancient world had ever seen. Since these streets followed a direct route across the countryside, travel was easier, faster and more efficient. The concept behind the Roman route system was that effective administration required developing civilizations to provide urban populations with safe, navigable travelling systems to connect communities and cities. This would ensure people had a quicker and more effective way to journey, and that domain management was improved through good military purposes and economic stimulation through trading.