Study shows marvels of the Roman Empire's road network

In the early 20th century, ancient Rome's first emperor Augustus placed a golden monument known as the Milliarium Aureum in the Roman Forum to symbolize the empire's central roadway network. The analysis of this extensive road system, stretching approximately 190,000 miles across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, has been conducted by researchers who found that the notion "all roads lead to Rome" was not entirely accurate.

In fact, Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) was a more fitting capital for this adage, given its strategic location bridging Europe and Asia. While the Romans preferred straight roads, challenging terrain occasionally hindered their plans, leading to deviations from their idealized designs. The study also revealed a strong correlation between the ancient Roman roads and modern highways in various regions, showing how these historic structures continue to influence contemporary infrastructure.