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Paths used by travelers likely Because roads developed in response to physical or geographic obstacles as common space for access that made movement slow or difficult if one did not use also regulated flow through a given road. Howevercity, with the innovation of agriculture spread, roads in the countryside began to be placed in lands between fields. In other words, roads soon were created gateways became important areas that developed to control traffic between settlements coming in and to access regions around settlementsout of a city. Roads became ways As cities grew in which people could be controlled so that their movements would not disrupt agricultural activity or even private property, as wealth and importance throughout the concept of property itself began to create 3rd millennium BCE in the idea Near East and Indus, both these regions likely developed city walls that could only be breached using official roads were common space that via gateways. This helped avoid cities also use these control points as a way to tax trade or regulate what was coming in and access private areasout of cities. With agricultural cycles in the Neolithic becoming <ref>For more common on taxing of road transport and fixed on the landscapemovement, see: Nail, roads became more fixed features since they proved to be expected ways that one can move without disrupting agricultural activitiesT. (2016). Regions that developed pastoral-based economies, on Theory of the other hadborder. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press, may have not developed fixed roads, as movement did not need to be regulated or confined to specific spacespg. 86. </ref>
Because Although royal roads developed proved to be useful for military purposes, as common space for access that armies after the Assyrians began to adopt such roads, it also regulated flow through a cityled to the development of long-distance trade along secure roadways. In part, gateways became important areas that developed long-distance roads helped to control traffic coming in spawn the developing Silk Road connecting trade between China and out Europe (Figure 1). The long-term legacy of a cityroyal roads that allowed armies to move quickly were later adopted by various armies.<ref>For more on how long-distance roads benefited trade, see: Bakhtia, L. M., & Bariand, P. (2011). Afghanistan’s blue treasure lapis lazuli. As cities grew </ref> The modern highway system created in wealth the United States and importance throughout other countries reflect the 3rd millennium BCE in concept of rapid movement along large distances by the Near East and Indusmilitary, both these regions likely developed city walls showing that could only the concepts born in the Iron Age continued to be breached using officials roads via gatewaysadopted even by more modern transport. This helped cities In effect, highways were always seen as initially being for the military above all, but benefits of rapid movement also use these control points as a way led to tax trade or regulate what was coming in and out of citiesthriving along routes, similar to highways today.
==Royal Roads==<dh-ad/>
The next major change to roads was the development ==Improvements in Paved Roads==[[File:Ancient Roman road of the "Tall Aqibrin.jpeg|thumbnail|left|Figure 2. Roman road still well preserved today.]]While highways and royal roads" or official government roads that connected very distant towns. This idea developed in the Middle Assyrian and Neo-Assyrian period, from by the late 2nd millennium BCE and early 1st millennium BCE. These , such roads were roads the government had authority over not paved and to utilize them one had to have official permissionoften were little more than dirt pathways serviced by rest stations, stables, unlike normal roads that were considered as common spaceand inns. The idea of these Such roads was for developing rapid transport became difficult to connect distant places travel in wet conditions, making them less than ideal during various parts of an empire or large statethe year. In the Roman Period, road engineering reached a new level. Unlike many early roads connecting townsNow, these long-distance royal roads developed were built with deeper foundations and underlain with crushed gravel. This helped to drain roads as water could go through rather than be more linear or straight, as speed was trapped in the primary goal of these roadsclay (Figure 2). Such Additionally, paved roads became particularly important as horses were developed as on the primary transport option for military purposes as well as messengersmost important highways.<ref>For more on Roman engineered roads, see: Nardo, D. (2015). Royal Roman roads also helped develop the concept of highwaysand aqueducts. San Diego, where a type of road would bypass local CA: ReferencePoint Press.</ref> This included using large capstones for pavement. Such pavement gave roads additional speed since wheeled carts and help those moving chariots could move more quickly in pavement than on dirt roads. Sometimes these roads were construct with multiple layers underneath the pavement to more quickly move without going through each city or town along assist with drainage and strengthening the wayroad. Major nodes or towns, rather than small cities or towns, became Some of the focus in royal Roman roadsare still used or are visible today. Inns and rest places developed as such long-distance roads became important features for large empires. In effectRoad technology in Europe, unlike earlier roadsin fact, the growing state needed did not improve to create systems of communication that was rapid. Royal roads became any great extent from Roman designs until about the chief vehicle for this along with horses18th century CE.
Although royal roads proved to be useful for military purposes, as armies after In the Assyrian began to adopt such roadsIslamic world, it also led to innovations were developed in the development types of long-distance trade along secure roadwayspavement used. In part, long-distance roads helped to spawn Baghdad developed the developing Silk Road connecting trade between China and Europeuse of tar that derived from pitch or bitumen. The long-term legacy of royal <ref>For more on Islamic roads that allowed armies to move quickly were later adopted by various armies, see: Bobrick, B. (2012). The modern highway system created in the United States caliph’s splendor: Islam and other countries reflect the concept of rapid movement along large distances by the military, showing that the concepts born West in the Iron Age continued to be adopted even by more modern transportgolden age of Baghdad (1st Simon & Schuster hardcover ed). New York: Simon & Schuster. </ref> In effectfact, highways were always seen this was already present in ancient Babylonian cities in ancient periods. The use of bitumen as initially being for the military above all, but benefits a type of tar was a forerunner of rapid movement also led to trade thriving along their routes, similar to highways tar and asphalt roads that are todaywidely used. Bitumen was relatively easily available and its waterproofing qualities meant that streets could become relatively dry quickly and remain mud free.
==Paved Roads==By the 18th century, road technologies once again began to improve as engineering was more greatly utilized. Concepts of drainage now led to roads being created that were developed so that water can run to the sides and be drained in areas away from the main central road to keep roads dry. Specific stones now were utilized for their qualities, such as thickness and durability. Road maintainers were employed to keep sections of roads well maintained throughout the year. By the early 19th century, road paving using a combination of dirt and stone proved to be useful for road durability, leading it to be a common combination.<ref>For more on how early industrialization improved roads, see: Guildi, E.J. 2001. The Road to Rule: The Expansion of the British Road Network, 1726--1848. Proquest.</ref> Such types of roads remained common when in 1901 tarmac was, for the first time, utilized to pave roads. The idea was similar to what was used in the Medieval Islamic period; however, tar was mixed with aggregate material to create a more mixed product than pure tar from bitumen. This mixture became the type of surface we today see in most roads and has developed as the chief road surface.<ref>For more on the development of tarmac and asphalt for roads, see: Ralston, A. (2005). Between a rock and a hard place. London: Pocket.</ref>
Admin moved page How Did Roads Develop? to How Did Roads Develop
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[[File:Summer Vacation 2007, 263, Watchtower In The Morning Light, Dunhuang, Gansu Province.jpeg|300px|left|thumbnail|Figure 1. Watch tower built during the Han Dynasty along a route used for the Silk Road.]]
Roads have been important transport systems for many cultures. While we take their place and presence for granted, as something universal in landscapes today, the reality is several factors often develop before these features become common. Furthermore, roads often reflect levels of authority that begins to reflect how power is distributed in society and where it ultimately is found.
==Early Development of Roads==
Paths used by travelers likely developed in response to physical or geographic obstacles that made movement slow or difficult if one did not use a given road. However, with the innovation and spread of agriculture, roads in the countryside began to be placed in lands between fields. In other words, roads soon were created to control traffic between settlements and to access regions around settlements. Roads became ways in which people could be controlled so that their movements would not disrupt agricultural activity or even private property, as the concept of property itself began to create the idea that roads were common space that helped avoid and access private spaces. With agricultural cycles in the Neolithic becoming more common and fixed on the landscape, roads became more fixed features since they proved to be expected ways that one can move without disrupting agricultural activities. Regions that developed pastoral-based economies, on the other had, may have not developed fixed roads, as movement did not need to be regulated or confined to specific spaces. <ref> For more on how or why roads first developed, see: Alcock, S. E., Bodel, J. P., & Talbert, R. J. A. (Eds.). (2012). Highways, byways, and road systems in the pre-modern world. Chichester, West Sussex ; New York: Wiley-Blackwell.</ref>
Roads developed similar in towns and cities. As private areas became established, roads were utilized as a means to access or avoid private regions in cities all together. At first, roads were not paved, but by the 4th millennium BCE, paving was already developing in the Indus region using baked bricks. Concepts of lane use likely developed as wheeled and human traffic took shape by the 4th millennium BCE if not earlier. Donkeys and onager were likely the most common form of animal in early urban streets to be used as transport. The horse, domesticated in Central Asia, likely did not become prominent on urban streets until the 2nd millennium BCE.<ref>For more on early transport, see: Sherman, D. M. (2002). Tending animals in the global village: a guide to international veterinary medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.</ref>
==Royal Roads ==The next major change to roads was the development of the "royal roads" or official government roads that connected very distant towns. This idea developed similar in towns the Middle Assyrian and Neo-Assyrian period, from the late 2nd millennium BCE and citiesearly 1st millennium BCE. As private areas became establishedThese roads were roads the government had authority over and to utilize them one had to have official permission, the unlike normal roads that were utilized considered as a means common space.<ref>For evidence of such royal roads, see: Altaweel, Mark; 2003. "The roads of Ashur and Nineveh," Akkadica 124: 205-212.</ref> The idea of these roads was for developing rapid transport to access connect distant places of an empire or avoid private regions in cities all togetherlarge state for military purposes. At firstUnlike many early roads connecting towns, these long-distance royal roads were not paveddeveloped to be more linear or straight, but by the 4th millennium BCE, paving as speed was already developing in the Indus region using baked bricksprimary goal of these roads. Concepts of lane use likely Such roads became particularly important as horses developed as wheeled the primary transport option for military purposes as well as messengers. Royal roads also helped develop the concept of highways, where a type of road would bypass local roads and human traffic took shape by help those moving on these roads to more quickly move without going through each city or town along the 4th millennium BCE if not earlierway. Major nodes or towns, rather than small cities or towns, became the focus in royal roads. Donkeys Inns and onager were likely rest places developed as such long-distance roads became important features for large empires. In effect, unlike earlier roads, the most common form growing state needed to create systems of animal communication that was rapid. Royal roads became the chief vehicle for this along with horses.<ref>For more on the infrastructure in early urban streets relation to royal roads, see: Briant, P. (2002). From Cyrus to be used as transportAlexander: a history of the Persian Empire. The horseWinona Lake, domesticated in Central AsiaIN: Eisenbrauns, likely did not become prominent on urban streets until the 2nd millennium BCEpg. 364.</ref>
==Conclusion==
Roads developed due to social needs to communicate and connect with people. However, roads also developed to keep people away from land used for agriculture while also regulating where people can go. Road technologies and design improved in antiquity, as rapid movement involving soldiers and the army became an advantage to growing empires. Technologies for roads did not improve significantly in many places after the fall of the Roman Empire. It took 18th century industrialization to prompt new types of roads to be built that improved drainage and road surface. By the early 20th century, the use of tar mixed with aggregate led to the development of tarmac and asphalt used for modern roads today.
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==Related DailyHistory.org Articles==
*[[How did the Silk Road develop?]]
*[[What Caused the Rise of Agriculture?]]
*[[When was Insurance First Used?]]
*[[How did Early Empires facilitate the Rise of Investment Banking?]]
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==References==
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