Roman Roads and Transportation Fred Bryant Roman Roads

Roman Roads and Transportation Fred Bryant

Roman Roads The Appian Way as it is today Roman Roads are known for being very well made, in fact many could still be used today. The engineers would dig a ditch and it would be filled with layers of sand pebbles, etc. Then large stones would be placed on top and be higher than the surrounding ground to allow for drainage. Many people were buried along roads and there were benches with the deceased names on it to provide rest for weary travelers. People were buried along the road so that they would not be forgotten.

Transport by Road A painting of a roman cart Roman transportation by road was not as well liked as transport by sea. The roads were very dangerous and there were very few inns to stop at. The roads were used often to transport small things like letters. With the superior roads it was possible to go up to 35 miles in a day. For large items or large quantities it was often quicker and more cost effective to go by water. There were no regulations on the roads such as speed or which side traffic goes on.

Wagons A carving of a Roman wagon pulled by elephants Roman wagons were engineering marvels. They were the basic design used until the middle ages, there is evidence that the technology may have even been less advanced after the fall of the Empire. The wagons were used to transport goods and people. The wagons had very advanced wheels, brakes, and even shocks

Horses A painting of a horse Roman’s heavily relied on horses for many facets of their lives including transportation. Horses were used to transport carts and wagons that carried letters, grain, wine etc. Horses were also used to transport carts carrying people and military equipment

Footwear A Roman boot and sandal All Roman footwear was very similar. The two many categories are boots and sandals. The design of the shoes is believed to be borrowed from the Greeks. The soles were made up of two pieces of leather with nails with the tips cut off places through the bottom leather. There was usually intricate strap work used to hold the shoe in place. Romans did a great deal of traveling by foot in Rome because the roads were closed to wagons during the day.

Litters A drawing of an Ancient Roman Litters were used by very rich Romans. Since wagons were banned from Rome during the day due to congestion you would have to walk around the city. Instead of do this it was fashionable for rich Romans to get onto a litter and have slaves carry them wherever they needed to go in the city

Transport by Sea A Roman vessel that would be used to transport goods and people Roman’s preferred transport by sea rather than by road. Going long distances by sea was usually quicker and more cost effective than taking a cart and going over the road. The roads were also very dangerous places because there were bandits along the roads that would mug and kill you. Also the few inns were dirty and full of cutthroats and crooks.

Merchant Ships An Artists portrayal of a merchant ship Romans relied on merchant shipping to supply them with many items. Ships were faster over long distances and could carry considerably more cargo then a cart. Rome relied on ships to transport the 420, 000 tonnes of grain needed each year to feed the people of Rome.

Ports A picture of Portus “The greatest man-made harbor of antiquity” Trade by sea was vital to the Roman economy. It transported grain, wine unload. Once ships got near the mouth of a port they would send for a rowboat out to pull the ship in much like a modern day tugboat. The ships would be pulled to shore where grain and other goods that were needed to keep the Empire running were unloaded. Ports during the time of Rome were not very good. Most were very small and a good number did not even have docks, ships would have to land on the beach to pull them to shore where they would unload their goods

Bridges An Actual Roman Bridge today Roman bridges are architectural masterpieces, with many of them still standing today. Romans were the first ones to move from timber to stone construction. They used the half circle to span spaces of up to 130 feet. The Romans would divert the water in the river and put pilings in the dry river bed to support the bridge. The Romans used no mortar to connect the two sides of the semi circle, they would each support each others weight.