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ROMAN ROADS: THE NEW WAY OF TRAJAN
GENERAL OVERVIEW
 The Romans learned the
value of quality roads during their conquests and expansion in
Italy in the early Republic period (509-133 B.C.). During the
later Republic (133-27 B.C.) and Empire (27-B.C.-476 AD), a vast
system of travel routes extending throughout the Mediterranean
and Near Eastern world was one of the most obvious marks of
Roman control in these areas. The frequently quoted saying that
“all roads led to Rome” was true except that the Romans would
have thought that all roads led from Rome! In fact, the first
emperor, Augustus, had a
golden pillar erected in the center of the forum in Rome to mark
the beginning point for the roads that radiated outward
throughout the empire. The roads were further identified by
milestones set along side the road every 1000 paces – the
distance of the Roman mile that would be approx. 4850 feet or
about 1480 meters (about .92 of a US mile or about 1.5
kilometers). These milestones marked the distance from Rome or,
in the provinces, the distance from the provincial capital. In
either case, they served as solid reminders that travelers
walked or rode in Roman territory.
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