Roman road network study challenges 'all roads lead to Rome' myth

A new study published in Nature Communications challenges the popular proverb ‘All roads lead to Rome’ by revealing that the Roman Empire’s road network was far more multicentric than previously believed.

By analyzing approximately 300,000 kilometers of Roman roads across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, researchers from Aarhus University and other institutions found that several provincial capitals served as vital hubs. Cities such as Corinth, Ancyra (modern-day Ankara), and Antioch were more highly connected to the broader network than Rome itself.

The research highlights that the network's connectivity shifted over time. Following the establishment of Constantinople as the imperial capital in the 4th century AD, the city became a primary strategic junction linking Europe and Asia, eventually surpassing Rome in terrestrial connectivity.

Additionally, the study notes that while Roman engineers preferred straight paths, the actual routes were often shaped by topography, including mountains, rivers, and valleys, making the network more complex and less linear than commonly imagined.