Transport & space · 312 BCE

Roman roads

Layered, drained, stone-paved highways bind an empire of 400,000 km of routes.

The Via Appia, begun in 312 BCE by Appius Claudius Caecus, set the pattern: graded foundations, drainage and fitted paving stones. At its height Rome maintained over 80,000 km of paved roads, with milestones and relay stations for official couriers. Many routes still underlie European highways.

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