Roads

Roman Roads of Italy

The entire network

Road

Restored Roman Road

Appia Via

Advantages of Road building Facilitated army movements Facilitated supplying the armies of the empire Encouraged trade along the routes Encouraged trade from distant lands Created a vigorous market, with a wide diversity of goods Made communications more easy Brought the peoples of the empire closer Made travel and exchanges of all kinds much easier

Via Egnatia

Egnatia

Egnatia in modern Thessalonike

Alcanara bridge over Tagus

Cordoba

Pons Fabricius, Rome (62 BC)

Pons Fabricius: the oldest standing bridge in Rome

Ponte Pietra, Verona (100 BC). Blown up in WW2 and rebuilt in 1957 with the original materials.

Pons Aemilius (2 nd c. BC). Mostly destroyed by a flood in the 16 th c.

Milvian Bridge, Rome

The battle of the Milvian Bridge One of the most significant battles in history in terms of long-term effects On 28 October 312 Constantine defeated Maxentius by the Milvian bridge and established his control over the whole of the West. During the battle energized Christian troops fighting on his side helped to gain victory In 313 the Edict of Milan recognized religious tolerance in the empire and paved the way for Christianity to become the dominant religion.

Arch of Constantine: Detail of Battle of the Milvian Bridge

Giulio Romano: Battle of the Milvian Bridge