What was the military purpose of the ancient Roman road system?

Answer 1

The stone-paved roads, which made up 20% of the road network of the Roman Empire had a military purpose. The first such road, the Appian Way was built in 312 BC to speed up the movement of Roman troops to the front of the Second Samnite War near Naples. Besides facilitating the movement of troops, these roads also made the transport of supplies to soldiers at the front or stationed at garrisons easier. They were also used for civilian travel and for trade.

Eighty per cent of the Roman network of road consisted in much cheaper graveled or leveled earth roads. The empire needed an extensive road network to facilitate both communication and the thriving and extensive trading networks it developed.

Answer 2

Rapid and efficient troop movement was the military purpose for the Roman roads. A single Roman legion on the move was awsome. Not only were there 5,000 plus marching men, but there was the cavalry, the baggage train, the equipment train, the lines of slaves with the mules carrying the soldiers' tents, the slave dealers and the assorted camp followers. This was only one legion, if two or three were on the move, the congestion multiplied. They needed the roads to be servicable to say the least.

Answer 3

It had the same purpose our roads do today. To provide a fast route for people and things. Some of the roads still exist today.