| Modern travelers take the open road for granted. | | | | breadth of the massive Roman network of roads, |
| We can hop into exquisitely engineered modern | | | | there were roadside inns, workshops to repair |
| vehicles, pop onto smooth, straight freeways, well | | | | transit vehicles, and stables to care for livestock. |
| lit, with excellent signage and many roadside | | | | Maps were prevalent and indicated not only place |
| conveniences. We can cover as much ground as | | | | names, but distances, accommodations, levels of |
| we might like in any direction, in relative comfort | | | | luxury, services, and military garrisons. |
| and safety. | | | | As distance was crucial in planning itineraries the |
| Much that we love about modern road travel was | | | | Romans perfected the odometer 2000 years ago. |
| actually available 2500 years ago to the ancient | | | | They utilized a 42-inch diameter wheel and a |
| Romans. They created the template for a | | | | series of gears that engaged each time the wheel |
| system of interconnected roads and | | | | made a full turn. The interlocking gear system |
| conveniences that we have simply adapted during | | | | was calibrated so each gear turned as it was |
| the 20th century as the automobile became the | | | | activated until a Roman mile (approximately 5000 |
| mass method of conveyance. The road system | | | | modern feet) was covered. Then a gravel pellet |
| that they built to connect their far-flung empire is | | | | would fall into a container as holes in the gears |
| still in use in many places. | | | | came into alignment. This amazingly accurate |
| As the Roman Empire flourished, conquered and | | | | measuring system enabled the Romans to mark |
| consolidated new lands and needed to efficiently | | | | their maps, and place stones alongside the |
| administer these territories the necessity for a | | | | roadsides marked with precise distances covered |
| durable network of roads became obvious to the | | | | and to the next town or service stop. |
| ruling class. Prior to Roman ascendancy roads | | | | Today, travel has become a hugely popular |
| around the world were simple unpaved paths cut | | | | experience enjoyed by millions of people around |
| into the landscape by pack animals, carts and | | | | the world. Whether a brief weekend road trip, a |
| people moving goods to trade, barter and local | | | | cruise or an international vacation, people love to |
| markets. | | | | go. So did the Romans. The Romans were the |
| The Romans prospered by trading in the lands | | | | richest people in the history of the world to that |
| they conquered, but they also needed to move | | | | time. The system of roads they built were heavily |
| great armies, control supply lines and have the | | | | utilized for recreational travel, the first time in |
| ability to quickly transport edicts, orders and news | | | | history that people had the wherewithal to move |
| to the far corners of the empire in a timely | | | | freely about for strictly leisure purposes. |
| manner. To build this essential intra-state network | | | | Travel guidebooks were omnipresent in ancient |
| of highways the Romans utilized the manpower | | | | Rome. The travel guidebook for the many |
| always available in their army legions. | | | | attractions of Greece, for example, was 20 full |
| The quality and durability of Roman roads still | | | | papyrus pages long. Inns and eating |
| amazes. Depending on topography Roman roads | | | | establishments were rated for economy, luxury, |
| were famously straight for as far as the eye | | | | cleanliness and safety. The modern Michelin and |
| could see. This engineering feat was accomplished | | | | Fodor guidebooks are simply successors of the |
| without any of the modern surveying equipment | | | | Roman travel guides. |
| used by road builders today. The Romans | | | | At most major crossroads on Roman roads there |
| invented a simple device called the gromma and | | | | was a sign offering directions, distances and |
| this became the principal tool utilized for | | | | recommended stops for repairs, refreshments or |
| accurately surveying roads and thoroughfares. | | | | relaxation. Many also included a news board with |
| The gromma ingeniously uses two strings with a | | | | recent proclamations, travel warnings and local |
| weight tide to the end of each. The strings are | | | | notices. These were the world's first billboards. |
| attached to the ends of a length of wood. The | | | | As travel grew in popularity so did the menu of |
| surveyor would simply line up the strings until they | | | | services available to the traveler. Chariots, sedan |
| appeared as one, and would have assistants plant | | | | chairs, carts, wagons and covered wagons with |
| stakes approximately every 100 yards apart . | | | | swivel seats and dice tables (for the rich) were |
| The surveyor, using the gromma as a guide, | | | | available for rent. Accommodations varied widely |
| would have the assistants slightly adjust stake | | | | in cost and quality. Hostels, servants quarters, |
| placement until the strings of the gromma and | | | | private sleeping rooms, luxury quarters with fire, |
| the line of stakes appeared as one. The result | | | | bathing and mattresses were on offer depending |
| was a roadbed that was true, precise and easily | | | | on one's pocketbook. Food was offered in similar |
| utilized by the construction crews. | | | | variety. |
| The Romans laid rock above the roadbed so the | | | | The world's first fast food was also available from |
| surface was higher than the land next to the | | | | some purveyors. The cart simply pulled to a door |
| road. This enabled water to drain off to the side | | | | or opening, the menu card was reviewed and the |
| and meant that roads did not wash out in | | | | order placed and delivered to the vehicle to be |
| inclement weather. Gravel was placed on both | | | | consumed as the journey continued. |
| sides of the roadway to act as a sort of gutter | | | | The Roman Empire began to consume itself |
| to carry away runoff. | | | | around the 5th century. The pursuit of luxury, |
| This system, when viewed on a modern map, | | | | greed and laziness made the Empire corpulent, |
| appears much as the present day system of | | | | vainglorious and decadent. The same roads that |
| interstate highways is constructed. Spain, Gaul | | | | had been so crucial in their military, recreational |
| (modern France), Italy, Germany, the British Isles, | | | | and commercial enterprises came to haunt the |
| Greece and Northern Africa all were tied closely | | | | Romans. Their many enemies utilized this road |
| together by this amazing transport network. | | | | network to attack their former masters. The |
| Modern roadways parallel this grid in most | | | | Visigoths, the Franks and the Mongols used the |
| countries where the Romans built their highways. | | | | Roman roads to carve back lands formerly taken |
| The Romans built over 2000 bridges. Many are in | | | | from them and to attack Rome mercilessly. By |
| use, carrying traffic to this day. The arches they | | | | the end of the 6th Century Roman hegemony |
| crafted were amazingly strong, with strategically | | | | was long a thing of the past. |
| placed keystones supporting the massive weight | | | | The demise of the Roman Empire meant that the |
| and pressure of these utilitarian edifices. In | | | | maintenance and continued construction of the |
| addition, these bridges are some of the most | | | | roads came to a halt. This had the unintended |
| beautiful structures ever built. The Roman word | | | | consequence of leaving huge swaths of the |
| for bridge was "pontificat". Today we apply the | | | | system in areas where there was no effective |
| descriptive name "Pontiff" to the Pope of the | | | | government. Trade came to a halt. The roads |
| Roman Catholic Church, as the Pope acts as the | | | | were deserted. In many areas, especially North |
| bridge between heaven and earth. | | | | Africa, Britain, Spain and France the Roman |
| Hundreds of tunnels had to be built through the | | | | highways disappeared beneath weeds and fauna. |
| rugged topography of central Europe in order to | | | | The result was the commencement of the Dark |
| move traffic to the most expeditious routes. The | | | | Ages. People stopped travelling for almost any |
| Romans had no power tools to gouge through | | | | reason. Until the Crusades there was almost no |
| rock. They had no dynamite. The technology to | | | | interaction between peoples and cultures. The |
| construct these tunnels was primitive, but most | | | | insularity of tribes and fiefdoms lead to a |
| effective. Engineers would build massive bonfires | | | | reawakening of ignorance, disease, superstition |
| right against the rock face of the surveyed | | | | and hate. |
| tunnel. Then they would boil vinegar and have this | | | | For six centuries the Romans ruled the known |
| splashed against the burnt rock face. While the | | | | world. Their ability to create, invent and improvise |
| effect of the heat and vinegar was greatest | | | | has served mankind ever since. The vast Roman |
| sappers would begin to chip at the weakened | | | | network of interlocking roads, tunnels, bridges, |
| surface with chisels and hammers. Some of the | | | | mapmaking, services, commercial enterprises and |
| tunnels took 20 years to complete. | | | | exploration is the guide we utilize to this day in |
| As the road system grew, the need for roadside | | | | communication, logistics and locomotion. We have |
| services became acute. Travel was typically | | | | much to thank these brilliant Romans for as we |
| undertaken in approximately 20-mile daily chunks. | | | | utilize so many of their inventions to this very |
| As a result every 20 miles or so, along the | | | | day. |