What were the Roman roads in Britain?
Q: What were the Roman roads in Britain?
A: The Roman roads in Britain were one of the most impressive features of the Roman Empire in Britain, along with Roman aqueducts and the Roman army.
Q: How did the Romans refer to these roads?
A: Originally, the Romans referred to the roads by numbers rather than names.
Q: What was the purpose of the Roman roads in Britain?
A: The Roman roads in Britain were constructed as a network of paved trunk roads to allow for the rapid movement of troops and military supplies, as well as for trade and the transport of goods.
Q: How long were the Roman roads in Britain?
A: Over the course of nearly four centuries of occupation (43-410 AD), the Romans built about 2,000 miles of Roman roads in Britain.
Q: Were the pre-Roman Britons familiar with paved roads?
A: No, pre-Roman Britons used unpaved trackways, including ancient ones running along the ridges of hills, such as the South Downs Way.
Q: How were the Roman roads built and what was their quality?
A: Most of the Roman network was surveyed and built from scratch, with the aim of connecting key points by the most direct possible route. The roads were all paved, in order to permit heavy freight-wagons to be used in all seasons and weather.
Q: Did the Roman roads continue to be used after the Romans withdrew from Britain?
A: Yes, Roman roads remained in use as trunk roads for centuries after the Romans withdrew from Britain in 410 AD. Systematic construction of paved highways did not resume in England until the 18th century.
