Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How the Roman Empire built their roads. (Original Post) OAITW r.2.0 Apr 2022 OP
Route design, slope cut/fill, sub base, sub grade, finish grade.... yonder Apr 2022 #1
Minor point: I think roadbuilding was done by their military... Karadeniz Apr 2022 #4
Here's a link affirming what you posted: yonder Apr 2022 #5
I'm sure you're right about the grunt work! Good lord, if you're going to have a slave class, you'd Karadeniz Apr 2022 #6
The engineering is amazing Turbineguy Apr 2022 #2
Roman roads are awesome. Biophilic Apr 2022 #3

yonder

(10,005 posts)
1. Route design, slope cut/fill, sub base, sub grade, finish grade....
Wed Apr 13, 2022, 01:31 PM
Apr 2022

Very similar to modern construction, minus the slave labor.

Thanks for this interesting post.

yonder

(10,005 posts)
5. Here's a link affirming what you posted:
Wed Apr 13, 2022, 11:03 PM
Apr 2022
https://www.historyhit.com/why-were-roman-roads-so-important-and-who-built-them/

There are many others like it too.

Despite all of that, I would think that beside the engineering and layout aspects likely performed by a professional soldier class, when it came to actual unskilled grunt work, slave labor would have to have been used - whether by grumbling conscripts or slaves. That's a lot of haulage.

It's worth learning more about and thanks for the insight.

Karadeniz

(23,442 posts)
6. I'm sure you're right about the grunt work! Good lord, if you're going to have a slave class, you'd
Thu Apr 14, 2022, 09:22 AM
Apr 2022

better have ways to occupy their time!

Biophilic

(4,865 posts)
3. Roman roads are awesome.
Wed Apr 13, 2022, 01:54 PM
Apr 2022

When I was in Spain, many years ago, we were driving in the mountains in the south and at one point looked down into a steep ravine and I stomped on the brakes. Down in that ravine, running next to a stream was a Roman road. We parked off the road and I made my way down to the road. Next to it was the foundation of a building, probably a way station of some sort. I walked on that road in both directions. I still get the chills. I was walking on an intact, never paved over ancient road. It had been made differently then the above video showed, "my" road used large blocks nestled tightly together. I still think of it as one of the coolest things I ever experienced.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Public Transportation and Smart Growth»How the Roman Empire buil...