The Roman Roads: How a Web of Stone Built an Empire

The Story of Italy: Rome, Renaissance, and the Birth of Modern Europe — Fexingo History · Jun 2, 2026 · 5m · transcript

This episode follows the construction and impact of the Roman road network, from the first paved military road, the Via Appia, to the 400,000 kilometers of roads that connected Rome to every corner of the empire. Lucas and Luna discuss the engineering methods behind Roman roads, their use as tools of military control and trade, and the way they spread culture, law, and language across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. They explore the role of the cursus publicus, the imperial postal system, and how roads enabled the rapid movement of legions and information. The conversation touches…