where was the first paved road and by who invented it?

Answer 1

The first roads.
Because roads are so old, experts are unsure of the origin of the word road. Most think it came from the Middle English word rode, meaning a mounted journey. This may have come from the Old English rad, from the word ridan, meaning to ride.

In England, hundreds of years ago, certain main roads were higher than the surrounding ground. This was because earth was thrown from the side ditches toward the center. Because they were higher, they were called highways. These roads were under protection of the king's men and were open to all travelers. Private roads were known as byways.

The first roads in the world probably followed trails and paths made by animals. These trails and paths led from feeding grounds to watering places. People followed these trails to hunt for animals. People also made their own trails and paths in searching for water, food, and fuel. Explorers followed these trails as they investigated new lands.

Early roads were built in the Near East about 3000 B.C., soon after the wheel was invented. As trade developed between villages, towns, and cities, other paths, or trade routes, were made. One such early system of roads was the Silk Road, which ran about 5,000 miles (8,050 kilometers), connecting China with Europe. Merchants used this ancient route to carry Chinese silk across Turkestan, India, and Persia.

The first road markers were piles of stones at intervals. Trails through forests were marked by blazing trees, or cutting a piece from the bark of the tree.

The Egyptians, Carthaginians, and Etruscans all built roads. But the first really great road builders were the Romans. They laid a solid base and gave the road a pavement of flat stones. The Romans knew that the road must slope slightly from the center toward both sides to drain off water. This gave the road a crown. The Roman road builders knew also that there must be ditches along the sides of the road to carry water away. Roman roads were built mainly to get soldiers from one part of the empire to another. These roads ran in almost straight lines and passed over hills instead of cutting around them. The Romans built more than 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) of roads in their empire and some of them still are in use.

From the 500's to the 1800's,
most roads in Europe were merely clearings in the forests. Cobblestone paving was used in some urban areas. There was little reason to build good roads, because most of the travel was on horseback. The cleared way was sometimes quite wide, so that robbers hiding in the woods could not leap out suddenly upon unsuspecting travelers.

In South America, from the 1200's to the 1500's, the Inca Indians built a network of 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) of roads. The roads connected their cities.

The first highway department was established in France in 1716. This department built Europe's finest gravel and stone roads of the 1700's using methods developed by Pierre M. J. Tresaguet, an engineer.

In the early 1800's, the person who did more for European roadbuilding than anyone else up to that time was John Loudon McAdam, a Scottish engineer. McAdam is remembered for the surface he developed for roads. This kind of surface, called macadam, is still used today. McAdam also stressed the importance of proper drainage to keep roads on a solid foundation.

Early American roads.
The first settlers in North America found a wilderness. They located their homes along the rivers and bays and used the water for transportation. As new settlers went inland, they usually built crude roads to the nearest wharf. Until after the War of 1812, people traveled mainly on foot or on horseback.

The first extensive hard-surfaced road was completed in 1794. This road was called the Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Turnpike. It measured 62 miles (100 kilometers) long and was surfaced with hand-broken stone and gravel. In the next 40 years, many turnpikes were built. Most surfaces were of earth, gravel, or broken stone. Some roads were covered with logs or planks, laid crosswise. Where logs were used, the roads were called corduroy roads. Both corduroy roads and plank roads were very bumpy.

In 1830, the steam locomotive was successfully operated and rapid development of railroads began. Many people became convinced that the railroad was the best means for travel over long distances. From 1830 to 1900, there was little change in the surfacing materials for roads and highways.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
where was the first paved road and by who invented it?

Answer 3

Plank Roads of Northern Florida
The very first paved road was sometime around 2500 BC in Egypt to haul stones ... But the first extensive paved road systems were built by the Romans Around 300 ...www.littletownmart.com/fdh/plank-roads.htm - 6k

Answer 4

In the USA, it was in Detroit. Woodward Avenue had one mile paved with cement. Can't remember who came up with it. Because of the auto industry.

Answer 5

Sumeria

Answer 6

it is critical question since there many proofs are there that roads are there in Indus valley and yellow river civilization period

Answer 7

Probably by Greek!

Answer 8

Rome. The romans were awesome!!!