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An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology part 46

An Encyclopedia of the History of Technology part 46. This one of a kind encyclopedia presents the entire field of technology from rudimentary agricultural tools to communication satellites in this first of its kind reference source. Following an introduction that discusses basic tools, devices, and mechanisms, the chapters are grouped into five parts that provide detailed information on materials, power and engineering, transportation, communication and calculation, and technology and society, revealing how different technologies have together evolved to produce enormous changes in the course of history | PART THREE TRANSPORT Figure 8.1 Section of a typical Roman road. support them. These were the first true roads. The Romans the first real roadbuilders appreciated the need for adequate drainage a proper foundation and a cambered impermeable surface see Figure 8.1 . They constructed 372 major roads a total of some 53 000 Roman miles 1 mile 1000 passus 1 passus 1.5m 5ft . These military roads connecting all the principal towns of the Roman empire from Africa to Scotland and from Spain to Greece generally followed the straightest possible routes and were largely paved with slabs of stone or lava. A map of the Roman roads of Britain shows a remarkable similarity to that of the modern motorway network. The legendary straightness of Roman roads derives it is said not from the prowess of their surveyors nor from their desire for the shortest route irrespective of gradient but from a design weakness in their vehicles. There was no means of steering the front wheels of their four-wheeled wagons used for baggage fodder and trade. They could only be inched sideways to change course by means of crowbars. The theory is plausible but incapable of proof. With the retreat of the Romans and their armies from Britain between AD 410 and 436 little was done to maintain existing roads or build new ones. It was not until after the Norman invasion over six hundred years later that the military value of a good road system was again appreciated. It was however the Church which had the greatest influence and until the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII following his adoption of the position of the Supreme Head of the Church in England in 1534 it was the Church that bore the brunt of road maintenance including the provision of inns or other accommodation where travellers could rest overnight and obtain refreshment. In 1555 an Act of Parliament was passed for for amending the High-ways being now both very noisom and tedious to travel in and dangerous to all Passengers and Carriages