The Roman Empire’s Entire Road Network Just Got Mapped, and It's Mind-Blowing
A recent study has identified over 68,000 miles of ancient Roman roads previously unknown to historians. The phrase "all roads lead to Rome" may now be more literal than ever, with this research revealing a much larger road network than previously estimated.
Introducing Itiner-e: A Detailed Digital Map
Researchers developed Itiner-e, a high-resolution digital dataset and map representing the Roman Empire’s road network around 150 CE. This extensive project combined archaeological and historical sources, topographic maps, and satellite imagery to create a comprehensive map.
- The map charts approximately 185,896 miles (299,171 km) of roads.
- It covers nearly 1,544,409 square miles (4,000,000 square km) of the Roman Empire’s territory.
- The new findings add 68,734 miles (110,616 km) more roads than previous records.
Significance of the Roman Road System
“The Roman Empire’s road system was critical for structuring the movement of people, goods and ideas, and sustaining imperial control. Yet, it remains incompletely mapped and poorly integrated across sources despite centuries of research.”
This statement was made by the researchers in their study published in the journal Nature. They also describe Itiner-e as “the most detailed and comprehensive open digital dataset of roads in the entire Roman Empire.”
The Empire’s Reach and Population
At its height in the second century CE, the Roman Empire included over 55 million people, spanning regions from modern-day Britain to Egypt and Syria. The expanded road network underscores the vast scale and connectivity of this ancient civilization.
Summary
This groundbreaking map significantly expands our understanding of Roman infrastructure, revealing the immense reach and complexity of their road system across the empire.
Would you like the summary to be more formal or conversational?