Historic viae maiores

**Fixiwee** · 10-08-2009, 18:52

Hi!

I want to know, from a historic context, from when on it is realistic to build viae maiores in an EB campaign?

**Urg** · 10-08-2009, 22:45

What a fascinating question. I don't know the answer (yet), but I would love to find out if anyone can tell us. I'm sure there are books written on this topic.

**Macilrille** · 10-09-2009, 06:32

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appian_Way

**Fixiwee** · 10-09-2009, 09:35

That wikipedia article is no answer. I'm pretty sure that the Via Appia wasn't on the highest technical standard by 200 BC already.

**Macilrille** · 10-09-2009, 13:10

Originally Posted by Fixiwee

That wikipedia article is no answer. I'm pretty sure that the Via Appia wasn't on the highest technical standard by 200 BC already.

Think you not?

The main part of the Appian Way was started and finished in 312 BC.

The road began as a leveled dirt road upon which small stones and mortar were laid. Upon this gravel was laid, which was finally topped with tight fitting, and interlocking stones to provide a flat surface. Some of the stones were said to fit so well that you could not slide a knife into the cracks.The road was crested in the middle (for water runoff) and had ditches on either side of the road which were protected by retaining walls.

The road at the time was a via glarea, a gravel road. The Romans built a high-quality road, with layers of cemented stone over a layer of small stones, crowned, drainage ditches on either side, low retaining walls on sunken portions, and dirt pathways for sidewalks. The via Appia is believed to have been the first Roman road to feature the use of lime cement. The materials were volcanic rock. The surface was said to have been so smooth that you could not distinguish the joints. The Roman section still exists and is lined with monuments of all periods, although the cement has eroded out of the joints, leaving a very rough surface. Roman roadways were used to walk...

I think that pretty well describes it as in its most advanced state from the start, though Milestones were only added later.

**Fixiwee** · 10-09-2009, 15:30

But wouldn't that be the tier 2 road?

**Macilrille** · 10-09-2009, 17:02

That is not for me to decide, but it is the most advanced sort of roads the Romans built...

**Fixiwee** · 10-10-2009, 01:49

It's funny because I actually wrote a scientific paper partly about roman roads. I still don't get if imperial roads weren't better in quality, like the via appia that Trajan built.

Anyway, I am in 190 BC in my campaign. I start building viae maiores in Italy and I will slowly expand in Greece and Coastal Spain.