Ancient Transportation Logistics and its Effect on the Shape of Road Networks in Roman Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PHD Researcher, Tourism Guidance Department, Faculty of Tourism & Hotels, University of Sadat City & Assistant lecturer, Cairo Higher Institute of Tourism and Hotels

2 Tourism Guidance Department - Faculty of Tourism & Hotels - University of Sadat City

Abstract

Road networks were one of the Roman Empire’s greatest legacies. They paid much attention to the road system as the Roman Army needed better roads because it had to be able to move quickly to areas of trouble to keep Egypt under control.
The roads were also essential for moving logistics and supplies of food, water and weapons to the soldiers. In times of peace, good and safe roads meant more trade movement and more trade meant more taxes for the Emperor.
The desert trails converge towards crucial points, serving as lifelines for traveller's navigating the arid landscape; these components comprised the logistic activities that formed the backbone of any desert road network.
Importantly, transport was an essential factor in the important questions of how communities within Egypt were supplied? And What were the main logistics that the human activities cluster around in the desert environment? As a consequence, How these resources affected the shape of the roads from simplicity to complexity? These are the major questions that this research aims to investigate.

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