Why are Roman roads so straight?

Answer 1

I disagree with "the wiz." I took a Roman History course in college, and currently teach high school history.

The romans did indeed go through obstacles. There is a road in Turkey that goes straight for miles upon miles on end. It cuts right through the side of a mountain when it only would have had to make a slight course adjustment. The Romans were curious people. First, they built things to last. The Romans KNEW they would be around forever. The end of the Roman republic, and later on the empire, was inconcievable. Since they knew they would be around forever, why build crappy roads? They should be built to last. Our roads today are estimated to last certain periods of time. They need to be repaved, resealed, ect. Many Roman roads still exist in their original conditions, built 2000 years ago. Of course they are beat up, but still it's obvious the care and quality that went in to their construction.

The Romans are also somewhat "cocky." They KNEW their way of life was best. They annexed territory after territory and added to their domain. They were in control of all people, and things. To show their control of the world, they built their roads straight through things such as mountains. Of course this was rather impractical, but once again, they were the Romans.

The roads did of course have a utilitarian approach as well, as many other people in this forum have mentioned, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Romans had to get from place to place quickly for many of the same reasons we do today. Business, visiting with family, avoid bandits on the country side, ect.

They were also useful for moving Armies quickly and efficiently. (Another way the straight line - quickest distance between two points comes in). Back when Rome was only a small territory outside of the city, they fought a variety of other Mini-Empires. Rome continued to conquer more and more land and stretch itself further and further from the city. These roads aided them in quickly getting to and from battle. It seems that this would indicate a sense of tradition.

No one can really know the true motivations behind a civilization that went away 1,500 years ago.... or 500 years ago if you count the Byzantines (Eastern Roman). We can only speculate. What I mentioned above is a synthesis of some of the top minds in classical civilization study.

Answer 2

Roman Straight Roads

Answer 3

Ancient Roman roads are generally laid out in a straight line, sometimes the road follows a ridge or the valley of a river, but the curves do not wind smoothly as with modern roads. Instead, the road is laid out in short straight lengths that change direction with the course of the terrain

The reason for these lengths is not that the Romans could not make curves, but it was easier to make the plan for the road in this way due to ancient surveying techniques. Sighting marks could be quickly aligned from one high point to another, with intermediate marks adjusted in between, probably by the use of movable beacons shifted alternately to right and left until all were brought into line; it is noteworthy that Roman roads nearly always make important turns upon high ground at points from which the sighting could easily be done

Answer 4

The Roman roads of Europe were built by the Romans in order that the Legions of Rome could march swiftly from one province to another within the Empire.

The Romans also used their roads as 'front lines'. If you drive up the A5 from London, you will discover that it goes in a long sweeping curve from London to North Wales [approx]. This long curve then formed the existing 'front line' for the Roman Legions until they could push further North.

Oxford Street in London is a Roman Road. It is very straight.

The nearest Roman Road to where I live is up on Shooters Hill.

In Britain today, there remain more miles of Roman Roads than we have miles of motorway. Please tell that to the UK.gov Transport Division.

Answer 5

The Roman surveyors – agrimensores – were not only extremely accurate in their work; they also had no need to worry about who owned or used the land along the way. As conquerors, they could simply choose the most direct route from A to B, building their roads across anyone's property or farmland that happened to stand in their way.

This didn't mean, however, that all Roman roads were built in a dead straight line. The Romans were sensible enough to by-pass hills, mountains, marshes and forest, where they posed particular obstacles; and they would seek out suitable crossing points at any rivers along their route. Here, where they could not use fords or ferries, their engineers would construct bridges as essential links in the communication chain.

Answer 6

roman roads were straight because they understood that strait roads got you to your destination faster. it was also easier for Romans to build straight roads than twisting ones. the Romans had so many roads because they did not like to travel by sea. roman roads were built so well that several have survived and are still in use today.

Answer 7

To stop the Ancient Britons and Gauls from hiding round corners!

Answer 8

because the romans understood that building roads in straight lines didnt got you to your destination faster.
with their vast empire and no motor vechiles they needed the roads to be as straight as posiible

Answer 9

because the romans were verry smart

Answer 10

Because they needed to get from A to B as quickly as possible. There were no cars in those days ...