travel

Question 1

what was used by military surveyors to create a straight line in making a road?

Answer 1

groma

Question 2

How did surveyors find the shortest routes in between mountains and hills for setting up a road?

Answer 2

they took sightings from high points, using smoke from fires to figure out the shortest distance.

Question 3

Once the line for the road was established, what happened next?

Answer 3

a cut was made in the ground the width of the road and deep enough to hold the filling.

Question 4

how wide were the roads?

Answer 4

6- 20 feet wide

Question 5

How deep?

Answer 5

about 5 feet (made of 4 layers)

Question 6

What were the 4 layers of road made of?

Answer 6

layer 1 - big rocks. layer 2 - smaller rocks, layer 3 - concrete, and layer 4 -sand concrete

Question 7

the name for a surface of the road is called

Answer 7

pavimentum

Question 8

what’s an agger?

Answer 8

a raised piece of earth (on the road) to allow for drainage.

Question 9

How long did a Roman paved road last?

Answer 9

About 80 - 100 years

Question 10

What was the main purpose of the Roman roads?

Answer 10

movement of troops and their supplies.

Question 11

What was the purpose of the cursus publicus?

Answer 11

carry important letters, documents and diplomas (government warrants)

Question 12

what are mutationes?

Answer 12

places where the cursus publicus could get fresh horses.

Question 13

what were mansiones?

Answer 13

resthouses along the roads .

Question 14

What was an itineraria

Answer 14

roll maps for travelers…showed roads, rivers, mountains

Question 15

The first official world map of the Roman empire was begun by who?

Answer 15

Agrippa and completed by Augustus

Question 16

The only surviving itinerarium is the

Answer 16

Tabula Peutingeriana. 4th -5th century road guide.

Question 17

Who road horses on the roads?

Answer 17

government officials

Question 18

most travelers on the road were transported by

Answer 18

walked, rode mules and carriages

Question 19

who were the caupones?

Answer 19

inn keepers, often dishonest. Most people were at their mercy when looking for a place to stay along the roads.

Question 20

In order to dodge the roadside inns, where would people sometimes go for the night?

Answer 20

river and canal barges.

Question 21

Another way to travel was by sea. This was often favorable but had at least what 3 constraints?

Answer 21

1. sailing off was weather and wind dependent, 2. the ships were merchant ships - not passenger ships. 3. no cabins provided, had to sleep on deck.