Stage 24 Culture

What was an agger? What two purposes did it serve?

An agger was an embankment of earth raised about 3 feet (1) meter to aid drainage and give marching troops a good view of the territory.

Name two methods Roman surveyors used to lay out the roads.

1. They used a groma to make a straight line 2. They observed from high points using smoke from fires to ensure that each part of the road took the shortest and most practical route between locations.

What were the two original purposes for building roads? What additional effect did they have?

1. allow rapid movement of Roman troops and supplies 2. to ensure military control of the province They also extended the civilization and power of Rome.

How many miles could an official courier ride in one day?

50 miles (80 km); if necessary and they traveled by night, they could triple that distance

How many miles (kilometers) of roads existed at the peak of the empire?

56,000 miles (92,000 km)

What made it possible to travel and trade throughout the Roman Empire?

A great network of straight and well surfaced roads

What is the proof that Roman roads were skillfully constructed?

A well-built road lasted for 80-100 years and some are still in use today. Many modern roads follow the Roman paths, and nations have begun to return to the road-building methods of the Romans.

How were private letters delivered?

Carried by a person's slave or sent with a traveler

Mutationes

Posting stations for horses

Caupones

Innkeepers of filthy roadside inns

Itineria

Itineraria were used to show distances between cities and way stops and marked important buildings, rivers, bridges, and mountains. They were roll maps for travelers.

Mansiones

Rest houses situated at frequent intervals along all main roads

Cursus Publicus

System known as Imperial Post created for government correspondence of government officials

Tabula Peutingeriana

The Peutinger Table; the only surviving itinerarium; it is a twelfth-century copy of a fourth or fifth century road guide of Roman world.

Describe the four layers Vitruvius specified for road-building.

The bottom was large stones; then a layer of smaller stones, concrete, or rubble; then a layer of rolled sand concrete; then the surface (pavimentum) was made of local materials such as large paving stones

Appian Way

The first "highway" that led from Rome to Brundisium. Horace claims they had "wicked innkeepers." Pliny claims of bed bugs.

Fossa

These were the ditches on the sides of the Agger. They aided the drainage.

Where did the poorer travelers stay? Describe the conditions there.

They would have to stay at road-side inns where the innkeepers were dishonest. The inns were small, dirty, and uncomfortable and were frequented by thieves, prostitutes, and drunks.

Where would wealthy people stay when traveling?

They would make arrangements by staying at their family houses or with friends, acquaintances, or even business associates.

Groma

This was a tool to aid Roman surveyors to make the roads as straight as possible.

Pavimentum

This was the paving of the Roman roads; often large flat stones or other natural materials. This was the fourth layer of the roads.

Describe another method of travel. What, according to Horace, sometimes went wrong with that method?

Travelers, both civilian and military, could use flat-bottomed river and canal barges for transportation. These had to be propelled by men or mules. Horace said that sometimes the men do not want to row and the mules do not either!

What was third and more popular method of travel? Give six of the drawbacks to that form of travel.

Travelling by sea on merchant ships (occasionally ferries) Drawbacks: Restricted time frame (March to November); subject to danger from pirates, storms, and shipwreck; travelers had to bargain with a merchant to get on their ship; ship would not sail until winds were good and an animal had been sacrificed; on unlucky days the ship would not leave the port; passenger would have to bring enough food and wine for him/her and all the slaves; no cabins were provided

Give three ways people traveled on the roads.

Walked, used carriages or carts, or rode on mules or horses (mostly cavalrymen or government officials)

Diploma

government warrant that indicated that the bearer was on official business and entitled to secure fresh horses at posting stations and to stay at the resthouses