All 187,460 Miles of Road That Led to Rome, Mapped

New York Times - WorldEN 5 min read 100% complete by Franz LidzDecember 9, 2025 at 09:00 AM

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A new study published in *Scientific Data* has significantly updated the estimated size of the Roman Empire's road system to 187,460 miles, a substantial increase from the previous estimate of 120,000 miles. The digital atlas, Itiner-e, maps the extensive network of major highways, strategic routes, and local roads presumed to have existed from roughly 312 B.C. to A.D. 400. This comprehensive database, compiled by researchers like archaeologist Tom Brughmans, uses historical records, satellite data, and topographic information to model travel times across the empire. The atlas provides scholars with a sophisticated tool to analyze the Roman transportation network and its impact on expansion and connectivity. While the peak of road development was around A.D. 150, the database encompasses the entire Roman period.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Alexandria Troas 50% Tabula Peutingeriana 60% Aarhus University 70% Roman Empire ×480%

Keywords

roman empire 100% road network 90% ancient rome 80% digital atlas 70% highways 60% itiner-e 60% travel times 50% archaeology 40%

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New York Times - World

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90%

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Roman Empire

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roman empire road network ancient rome digital atlas highways itiner-e travel times archaeology

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