10/04/2024
“ON THE ROAD” with the Romans.
The Romans built roads over ancient routes and created a huge number of new ones. Engineers were audacious in their plans to join one point to another in as direct a line as possible whatever the difficulties in geography and costs. Consequently, many of the Romans’ long straight roads across their empire have become famous names in their own right.
Roman roads included bridges, tunnels, viaducts, and many other architectural and engineering tricks to create a series of breathtaking but highly practical monuments which spread from Portugal to Constantinople.
The public Roman roads covered over 120,000 km, and it greatly assisted the free movement of armies, people, and goods across the empire. Roads were also a very visible indicator of the power of Rome, and they indirectly helped unify what was a vast melting pot of cultures, races, and institutions.The first and most famous great Roman road was the Via Appia (or Appian Way). Constructed from 312 BCE in as straight a line as possible and was known to the Romans as the Regina viarum or 'Queen of Roads'.
Major roads were around a standard 4.2 m wide, which was enough space for two wheeled vehicles to pass each other and they had sidewalks on both sides for the pedestrians. Roads were purposely inclined slightly from the centre down to the curb to allow rainwater to run off along the sides, and for the same purpose many also had drains and drainage canals. At their major intersactions, they will be containers with lids and inside the travelers will find al the necessary information for a successful trip like maps, distances, hours of traveling, places to eat, sleep and to change horses if needed with their cost, very similar to our “ Yellow pages”.
Every one drove on the left side of the road but since Napoleon hated the British. he changed it and made all of us ride on the right. Poor Napoleon if he only knew; he did not have to have a war against the British, they will come out of Europe willingly just by voting!!
On the right of the road at each miles there will be a column with the number of miles traveled from the starting point in the Roman Forum in Rome. The upkeep of the roads was given to. hired workers called the Stationari and Beneficiari.
Interesting photos
1) Map of all the Roman Roads in the Empire.
2) For traveling at night all the Roman Roads will have reflectors. Little pieces of white marbles between the grey stones. By using a lantern or a torch of just the moon light the travelers could see the road. Unfortunately most of them will be removed since people believed they were lucky charms,. We will find them in Pompeii since the Roman Road will be covered by ashes. Called "Cats Eyes".
3) Family transportation. Used two or one horse. Does not Remain you of Model T car???
4) Public Transportation, The coach will stop always at the same place. Every one will be allowed on by paying a very small fare and the cost will be less if you decided to travel on top outside and not in the comfort below. Does not look like the Pony Express?? Used at least two horses but usually many more .
5) Sleeping coach for overnight traveling. Two levels to minimized the bumpy road. Two or more horses.
6) Mail and packages deliveries. Two different systems: a public one used by the governament will be free, a private one used by the people will be at a different cost. The wagon had a covered place for the dog (mostly large dogs similar at Rottweiler that had to guard when the man will be down to make his delivery). Used horses two or more for long distance deliveries but for local deliveries could also use mules.
7) Transport of wine. Two large containers and only used two or more oxen. My family transported wine from the country to taverns in Rome. For very short trip in town also donkeys or mules were used.
8) Transport by cable carts. For very steep short road when the animals will get hurt the Romans will use like in San Francisco cables that will be pulled up and down.
There will be also travelers on foot on the side walks, single horse riders and for short distance also donkey were used.
