For centuries, the phrase “all roads lead to Rome” has symbolized the heart of the Roman Empire. However, a groundbreaking new map has revealed a more nuanced picture: while Rome was undoubtedly important, its empire was held together by a vast and intricate road network far larger than previously understood – spanning roughly 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles).
A Network Expanding Beyond Rome
Developed by a team led by archaeologist Tom Brughmans of Aarhus University, the map, named Itiner-e, is publicly available and has nearly doubled the confirmed length of the Roman road network from a previous estimate of 190,000 kilometers. Importantly, the map demonstrates that major transportation hubs were located away from Rome itself, challenging the traditional perception of the city as the sole central point of the empire.
“This was a huge surprise and a sobering realization: Roads are one of the most enigmatic topics in Roman archaeology and history. We should have a reliable resource that makes these scholarships available to everyone.” – Tom Brughmans
Despite its immense size—the Roman Empire, at its peak, stretched across 5 million square kilometers—the Itiner-e map accounts for only about 3% of the estimated entire Roman road network. This finding highlights a significant gap in our knowledge and suggests that much more research is needed to fully understand the extent and impact of this crucial infrastructure.
Building a Comprehensive Resource
The Itiner-e project aimed to consolidate existing research on Roman road locations into a single, openly accessible dataset. The team drew upon a wealth of sources, including the Digital Atlas of Roman and Medieval Civilizations (DARMC) map, historical itinerary records, archaeological site data, historical maps from the 1800s and 1900s, and recent scholarly findings. This detailed approach allowed for an unprecedented synthesis of historical information.
To refine their work, the team combined evidence from excavations and literary sources with satellite imagery and historical topographic maps. An unexpected bonus was their ability to locate roads obscured by modern infrastructure, including dam lakes—often visible in historical satellite images taken before construction.
“We can even find roads hidden beneath current dam lakes by using historical satellite images taken before the damming project.” – Tom Brughmans
The Significance of the Roman Road Network
The Roman road network served as the lifeblood of the empire, facilitating trade, military movements, and the spread of ideas and disease. It fundamentally restructured transportation infrastructure in the region, on a scale unparalleled until the industrial revolution. The new map provides a powerful tool for studying how terrestrial mobility changed across the empire over 2,000 years.
Furthermore, fascinatingly, many of these ancient routes remain in use today, demonstrating remarkable continuity in transportation patterns.
Shifting Perspectives on the Empire’s Center
The map’s findings challenge traditional narratives about the Roman Empire’s geography. While Rome held strategic importance, especially when considering its connection to maritime and river routes, the primary overland networks centered around the Po Valley and Alpine corridor in northern Italy. In other words, Rome proved to be something of a cul-de-sac for land-based transport.
“Three hundred thousand kilometers is really only the tip of the iceberg,” – Tom Brughmans
The researchers plan to expand the Itiner-e project, with the goal of creating the world’s most comprehensive map of Roman roads—a resource that promises to unlock new insights into the dynamics of this influential ancient civilization. Ultimately, this project will help paint a more accurate picture of the Roman empire, emphasizing the importance of regional hubs and the vastness of its interconnected land routes.
This new map provides a valuable resource for historians, archaeologists, and anyone interested in the legacy of the Roman Empire—offering a fresh perspective on its geography, infrastructure, and lasting impact on the world
