Innovations+-+Roads

=**Roads**=

**Introduction to Roman roads**
The Roman Empire left many constructions such as aqueducts, bridges, shrines, etc. One of them is roads. The roads were used by many people, and it supported the growth of the Roman Empire. The roads which the romans built, helped the Roman empire to achieve its greatest in history.



**Construction of Roman roads**
The roads were very well-build that it survived for hundreds of years after Rome had fallen. First, the workers dug a deep ditch. The workers were often slaves who had been captured when war. Then, they filled the ditch with layers of stones and gravels. Then, they covered the roads with thick, flat, and hardwearing stones. The centre of the roads was made slightly higher than the sides, which there were ditches. When it rains, the rain goes to the ditches and the centre of the roads would not be damaged by rain. All roads were straight. When there were rivers or valleys on the way, they used bridges and viaducts, which means arches, to cross.

//This is a remain of a Roman road//

[[image:fullmap2.jpg width="529" height="331" align="right" caption="The scale of the Roman Empire"]]**Area of the roads**
The scale of the roads was very vast. By the 3rd century of A.D., the Roman Empire had reached Britain, Gaul, which is modern France, and the Eastern Mediterranean region. When it was the greatest extent, the Roman Empire ruled Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and built roads. Even now, much of Europe follows the ancient Roman roads.

**Usage of the roads**
The roads affected to the power of Rome. They were used in many ways. The roads helped the armies of Rome going faster to wars. The tax collectors, tribunes, traders traveled 5,3000 miles on the roads to do their jobs. It also made the postal system and trades easier. For example, the roads were used to bring marbles from Greece, for the buildings of the city of Rome. They were also used to bring wild, dangerous animals from India, or Africa, to use them for the blood sports at the arena. //As you see here, the roman empire was enormous at its time//

Because of the technology of building roads of the Romans, the Roman Empire grew very big. The roads made lots of things convenience. It is used even in these days. Roads were the technology of the Roman Empire that they could not miss.

Works Cited: code code code __About.com__. 6 Nov. 2007 <[|http://http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~vandersp/Courses/maps/] code code fullmap2.jpg>. code

code "Early History of Transportation( from transportation article)." __Brittannica__. 30 Oct. 2007 code

code . code

code __History and Structure of Roman Roads__. 5 Nov. 2007 . code

code Millard, Anne. __The Atlas of Ancient Worlds__. London: Dorling Kindersley, 1994. code

code Reid, T. R. "The Power and The Glory of Roman Empire Part one; The Making of an Empire." __SIRS__. July code

code 1997. 30 Oct. 2007 . code