The Roman Empire's Roads: Paving the Way for Modern Travel

The extensive road network of the Roman Empire revolutionized travel and laid the foundation for our present-day journeys. Discover how the Romans built a transportation system that shaped today's world.

The Roman Empire had a significant impact on modern travel. Starting from the 3rd century BC, the expansion of Roman rule in the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions opened up new opportunities for travel that lasted until the end of the classical period. Two key factors contributed to the substantial increase in travel during Rome's most prosperous era.

The first factor was the political unity established and enforced by the Romans in the Mediterranean and Western Europe, particularly in the first two centuries of the Middle Ages (known as the Roman Peace). This unity significantly reduced the dangers associated with land and sea travel. While road bandits and sea pirates continued to exist, they posed much less of a threat due to the reach of Roman law.

The second factor was the strength of the Roman economy between 200 BC and 200 AD. Archaeological evidence, including shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, suggests a thriving commercial economy. Increased production of wheat, wine, olive oil, textiles, timber, and bricks further supports this view. With a population that quickly reached one million, Rome served as a significant destination for the increased production.

The Romans responded to the political unity, peace, stability, and vibrant economy by constructing unprecedented roads. They also developed sea routes and trade. Merchants, soldiers, and slaves were the most frequent travellers. While records of individual travellers are scarce, the tomb inscription of a merchant named Flavius Zeuxis in Hierapolis celebrates his seventy-two journeys to Italy. Although not all merchants of the time would have matched Flavius Zeuxis' travel record, his success implies that frequent sea voyages were possible in the eastern Mediterranean during the early imperial period.

Throughout the history of the Roman Empire, various individuals engaged in land and sea travel. Imperial officials, ambassadors, couriers, writers, scientists, students, craftsmen, entertainers, athletes, pilgrims, missionaries, and other travellers were ordinary. These journeys were often of considerable distance due to the conditions of the time. Even many of the early emperors themselves travelled extensively.

Julius Caesar, a military leader and provincial administrator, travelled widely in the 60s and 50s BC. He spent time in Anatolia, Spain, Gaul, Britain, Egypt, and Syria, frequently moving between these regions. Although he may not fit the definition of a typical traveller, he was one of the most extensively travelled figures of the Roman Empire.

Octavian/Augustus (r. 27 BC-14 CE) led a large fleet of warships from southern Italy to Alexandria in 31 BC to secure a crucial military victory over Antony and Cleopatra. Before Tiberius (r. 14-37 CE) became emperor, he led Roman troops on campaigns in Spain, Armenia, and Germany. He also spent eight years in Rhodes in what could be considered early retirement before assuming office.

As a child, Caligula (r. 37-41 CE) accompanied his father on travels in Syria. During his short reign as emperor, he led military campaigns in Germany and Gaul, reaching as far as the shores of the English Channel.

Hadrian (r. 117-38 AD) is one of the most mobile emperors. He spent approximately half of his reign travelling. Early in his reign, he focused on visiting the Roman borderlands. Later, he expanded his travels, journeying from Rome to modern-day Germany, England, France, Spain, and Morocco, and eventually sailing to Antioch. From Antioch, he travelled north through Anatolia to the Black Sea port of Trabzon. He then continued his journey by sea and land, stopping at Ephesus and Athens before returning to Rome. Hadrian also made a short journey across the Mediterranean to North Africa, visiting Roman troops stationed in what is now Algeria. During his last journey, between 128 and 132 ADS, he toured the eastern Mediterranean, including Athens, Ephesus, Antioch, Palmyra, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Thebes. Records indicate that by the end of his third journey, the emperor had travelled approximately 29,000 km.

Hadrian's extensive travels were made possible by the network of concrete roads based on stone, gravel, sand and lime, built during the Roman Empire's peak. This network is estimated to have spanned approximately 78,000 kilometres. While the Romans constructed this network for military and administrative purposes, they unknowingly laid the foundation for modern travel.

The army was primarily responsible for building the roads, typically 8 to 4 meters wide and consisting of four layers of stone and gravel bonded with mortar. Deep drainage ditches were added to enhance durability. Sections of these roads can still be seen in present-day Turkey, Syria, Portugal, and other parts of the ancient Roman world, showcasing their technological advancement for the time. Stone mileposts were also installed along these roads to assist travellers. More than 4,000 of these milestone markers survive today.

In addition to their military significance, highways played a crucial role in the administration of the empire, which had a population of approximately 50 million in the 2nd century AD. Emperor Augustus utilized the main roads for an official courier system called the cursus publicus, enabling emperors to govern their vast territories through correspondence. This courier network likely drew inspiration from the system the Persians used and Herodotus described.

According to Herodotus, many "inns" existed along the Roman roads, serving as early examples of the hotel concept. Travelling merchants and other travellers would eat and stay at these inns. The Romans established well-maintained transfer stations or stopping points every fifteen to twenty kilometres along the main highways for changing horses. Similarly, lodging houses were built approximately forty kilometres apart to accommodate overnight stays, considering the average length of a day's journey on these roads.

Initially, travelling on the main highways was primarily restricted to individuals on official business, such as soldiers, couriers, and administrators. Private citizens could only use the roads for personal purposes if they obtained an official document from an administrator. Although various private travellers were issued such documents, they were rarely given to merchants. The high cost of land transport, approximately forty times more expensive, limited commercial traffic on the main highways.

However, during the centuries of the Roman Peace, there was a significant increase in commercial voyages in the Mediterranean and Black Sea. Rome relied heavily on sea transportation for commodities such as wheat, olive oil, wine, fish, and other goods from various provinces. The port of Alexandria in Egypt played a crucial role, supplying Rome with wheat to feed its population and goods from distant lands, including incense from Southern Arabia, ivory from Sub-Saharan Africa, spices from India, and silk from China. Phoenician ports like Tyre and Sidon and the Anatolian port of Ephesus provided Rome with a combination of locally produced and imported goods.

Whether for political visits, warfare, trade, or other reasons, the road infrastructure developed during the Roman Empire's technological advancements significantly contributed to the foundation of today's travel. Without those roads, modern travel as we know it would not exist. Therefore, when encountering the Roman roads still found in many parts of Anatolia, it is worth appreciating their historical significance and value in shaping our present-day travels.

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