Roman Roads Were Less Straight Than Believed, New Digital Map Reveals

A team led by Tom Brughmans at Aarhus University has produced the most comprehensive digital reconstruction of the Roman road network, covering nearly 300,000 kilometres across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and western Asia. The analysis shows that while Roman roads were largely straight in flat lowlands, they became noticeably winding in mountainous terrain, a pattern that modern highways have largely eliminated. About 90 % of the routes were built with a slope gradient that would have allowed animal‑driven carts and wagons, including through the Alps, underscoring the Romans’ commitment to empire‑wide overland connectivity. Provincial capitals emerged as key crossroads, challenging the notion that Rome was the sole hub of the network. The study also finds that many ancient routes survive in the modern road system, suggesting that Roman planning has left a lasting imprint on contemporary transport geography.