From Egypt to Spain: The Highways That Made Rome Eternal

A groundbreaking study has mapped 100,000 previously unknown kilometers of Roman roads, expanding our understanding of one of history’s most sophisticated infrastructures.

The international research team, led by archaeologists from Denmark’s Aarhus University and Barcelona, used historical maps, satellite imaging, and AI-based analysis to digitally reconstruct the full extent of the Roman Empire’s transport system.

Their new database, Itiner-e, shows nearly 300,000 kilometers of interconnected routes that once stretched from Britain and Spain to North Africa and the Middle East — enough to circle the Earth seven times.

These roads were the arteries of an empire of 55 million people, facilitating trade, migration, and even the spread of early pandemics.

Beyond aiding historical research, the interactive tool lets users explore the routes, simulate ancient travel paths, and visualize how geography shaped Roman expansion. The study’s authors say these roads not only sustained the empire’s power but also influenced the development of European civilization for millennia.