One of the reasons Christianity spread so quickly in the first centuries after Jesus’s death and resurrection was the sophisticated and extensive Roman road system. Copies of the gospels as well as Paul’s letters—later to become Holy Scripture—were carried throughout the Empire on these roads.
- They were built to serve the military. As the famed Roman legions conquered new regions, they built new roads to connect the captured cities with Rome. The roads provided speedy transportation for troops, communications, supplies, and trade.
- They were built for speed. They usually went from one city to another “as the crow flies.” Up hills, over rivers, through mountains—nothing stopped a Roman road. The Fosse Way in Britannia traverses 180 miles from Exeter to Lincoln and never veers more than a few miles off a straight line.
- They were built to cover the Empire. At the peak of Rome’s development, 29 military highways radiated from the capital, and over 100 provinces were interconnected by nearly 400 great roads. The system covered a quarter million miles, over 80,000 of them stone-paved.
- They were built to last. The engineers used multiple layers to ensure the roads were not only flat but strong. Trenches, followed by retaining walls, leveled earth, mortar or sand, small stones, and finally crushed rocks or gravel cemented with lime mortar were topped with neatly arranged blocks. Adjacent ditches prevented flooding. Many Roman roads were still in use as modern thoroughfares until quite recently and some are still in use as secondary roads.
- They were built to offer safe travel. Most Roman roads were patrolled by special detachments of soldiers who manned police posts and watchtowers to protect and guide travelers, relay messages and look out for fleeing slaves. Just as today, Roman roads were not always free of charge, and troops also acted as toll collectors.
They were built for ease of use. A detailed series of mile markers informed travelers of the distance to the nearest town as well as the best places to stop. You’ve heard “all roads lead to Rome,” and in this case, it’s literally true. Emperor Augustus placed a “golden milestone” in Rome’s forum. All roads were considered to begin at this monument and all distances in the Roman Empire were measured relative to it. The Milliarium Aureum is thought to have listed the distance to the Empire’s most important cities.
Roman roads were also lined every ten miles along with ancient rest stops were the horse changing stations. Much like our short-lived Pony Express, government couriers rode continuously at top speed by changing horses, often making as much as 60 miles in a single day. There were also roadside hotels roughly every 20 miles where travelers could rest, eat, bathe, repair wagons or even hire a prostitute.
The same roads that were meant to help Rome conquer the world spread the gospel far and wide faster than could ever have been possible to that time. While Rome exported force and brutality, God’s message offered peace and forgiveness.
For some absolutely stunning visuals, check out Roads to Rome.