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How the Romans Built Roads That Lasted Centuries
The ancient Romans constructed an extensive road network without modern machinery, yet many of these roads have endured for thousands of years and still support cities, trade routes, and modern highways.

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00:00The ancient Romans constructed an extensive road network without modern machinery, yet
00:05many of these roads have endured for thousands of years and still support cities, trade routes,
00:11and modern highways .
00:17Exceptional durability and engineering Roman roads were built with meticulous planning
00:22and high-quality materials, which helped them withstand the effects of time, weather, and
00:27continuous use, something that even many modern roads struggle with.
00:32C.P.G. Click Petrolio, E.G.A.S. II, the first major road, Appian Way.
00:39In 312 BC, the Roman leader Appius Claudius the Blind initiated the construction of the
00:46Appian Way, the first major paved road.
00:50Its primary goal was to connect Rome with southern Italy quickly and efficiently.
00:55Routes of this road are still intact and usable today, over 2,400 years later.
01:02C.P.G. Click Petrolio, E.G.A.S. II, Fast Road Network Across the Empire.
01:09Following the Appian Way's success, the Romans built more than 400,000 kilometers of roads
01:15throughout their empire.
01:17These routes connected distant regions, from Britain in the northwest to North Africa in
01:22the south, allowing armies, merchants, and messengers to travel faster and safer than ever before.
01:29C.P.G. Click Petrolio, E.G.A.S. IV.
01:34Advanced Construction Techniques
01:36Roman engineers used several key methods, careful terrain survey and alignment, deep foundations,
01:43multiple layers of stone and gravel for strength, curved surfaces for effective water drainage,
01:49ditches on the sides to channel rainwater away from the road surface.
01:54These techniques made the roads extremely robust compared to many modern paved routes.
02:00C.P.G. Click Petrolio, E.G.A.S. V.
02:04C.P.G.
02:05After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, many roads were neglected.
02:12Still, because they were superior to medieval roads, merchants, pilgrims, and armies continued
02:18to use them.
02:19Later, many modern highways were built directly over ancient Roman routes.
02:23C.P.G. Click Petrolio, E.G.A.S.I.S.
02:28Importance Today
02:29Roman roads weren't just transport paths.
02:32They were the backbone of an empire, connecting borders, facilitating trade and communication,
02:38and shaping infrastructure even in the present day.
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