Transportation Networks
Table of Contents
Pre-Roman History 3
The Roman Empire 4
Medieval Europe 4
Early Modern Era 5
John Loudon McAdam 6
The 20th Century 6
History of the Road Transportation Network
1794. You may ask, what is the significance of this date? In 1974, the first modern road transportation network was established in Great Britain, allowing the first mail coach service between Bristol and London that ran on a timetable. However, roads have been around for centuries. So how is this relatively late date the “first” instance of a modern transportation system? Let us take a look at transport throughout the ages, and roads in particular.
Pre-Roman History
In prehistory up to circa 3000 BC, roads were little more than trails hunters used, or people had trodden down walking from place to place. There were no formal, built roads to speak of. After the wheel was invented, and the chariot and cart were developed, goods could be transported in volume across great distances. This sparked trade, and trade routes. In addition, to move these commodities from place to place required one thing, roads. In ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, historians have discovered evidence of organized, pre-modern roads. Shirley Sponholtz states, “A road built in Egypt by the Pharaoh Cheops around 2500 BC is believed to be the earliest paved road on record-a construction road 1,000 yards long and 60 feet wide that led to the site of the Great Pyramid.” Although this was more of a ceremonial “road,” not actually used for travel or commerce, it shows how early civilizations started thinking about transportation. As early as circa 3000BC, the ancient Mesopotamians had established a fundamental road network for the purpose of moving goods from city to city, and more importantly, moving armies. Asphalt was even used in Babylon as early as 625 BC for certain roads. As time wore on, kingdoms and civilizations began to notice the
Pre-Roman History 3
The Roman Empire 4
Medieval Europe 4
Early Modern Era 5
John Loudon McAdam 6
The 20th Century 6
History of the Road Transportation Network
1794. You may ask, what is the significance of this date? In 1974, the first modern road transportation network was established in Great Britain, allowing the first mail coach service between Bristol and London that ran on a timetable. However, roads have been around for centuries. So how is this relatively late date the “first” instance of a modern transportation system? Let us take a look at transport throughout the ages, and roads in particular.
Pre-Roman History
In prehistory up to circa 3000 BC, roads were little more than trails hunters used, or people had trodden down walking from place to place. There were no formal, built roads to speak of. After the wheel was invented, and the chariot and cart were developed, goods could be transported in volume across great distances. This sparked trade, and trade routes. In addition, to move these commodities from place to place required one thing, roads. In ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, historians have discovered evidence of organized, pre-modern roads. Shirley Sponholtz states, “A road built in Egypt by the Pharaoh Cheops around 2500 BC is believed to be the earliest paved road on record-a construction road 1,000 yards long and 60 feet wide that led to the site of the Great Pyramid.” Although this was more of a ceremonial “road,” not actually used for travel or commerce, it shows how early civilizations started thinking about transportation. As early as circa 3000BC, the ancient Mesopotamians had established a fundamental road network for the purpose of moving goods from city to city, and more importantly, moving armies. Asphalt was even used in Babylon as early as 625 BC for certain roads. As time wore on, kingdoms and civilizations began to notice the