L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 28 L'Italo-Americano I n an era dominated by GPS and digital navi- gation, it's difficult to imagine a world where long-distance travel was possible without modern m a p s . Y e t , t h e R o m a n s , masters of engineering and logistics, managed to build a n d m a i n t a i n a s p r a w l i n g e m p i r e s p a n n i n g E u r o p e , North Africa, and parts of Asia, all without the conve- nience of scaled, geographical- ly accurate maps. Instead, they relied on innovative solutions t h a t c o m b i n e d p r a c t i c a l tools, textual guides, and human knowledge. Instead of relying on maps that represented geographical distances with accuracy, the Romans used textual guides called itineraria, documents that listed towns, cities, land- marks, and distances along specific routes, and functioned as practical travel tools rather than abstract geographical representations. The itiner- aria provided step-by-step instructions, enabling travel- ers to plan their journeys effi- c i e n t l y . O n e o f t h e m o s t famous examples is the Itin- erarium Antonini, a com- prehensive document com- piled in the third century AD: it listed over 200 major roads and 225 key stopping points across the empire. The Itiner- arium Antonini allowed indi- viduals to map out their trips by selecting specific routes and stops relevant to their destinations. This approach was strikingly similar to how people navigate today, break- ing down their routes into manageable segments based on key locations or intersec- tions. While textual itineraries were the primary navigation tool, the Romans also created schematic visual maps, the most famous of which is the Tabula Peutingeriana, a medieval copy of an original Roman work that depicted the empire's vast road network. Unlike modern maps, the Tab- ula Peutingeriana did not aim for geographical accuracy; instead, it prioritized connec- tivity, emphasizing the roads, cities, and distances between l o c a t i o n s . T h e T a b u l a s t r e t c h e d f r o m B r i t a i n t o India, and showed the Roman obsession with infrastructure and organization: major cities such as Rome and Constan- tinople featured prominently, as did key landmarks like the Nile River. Its schematic style, which distorted geography in favor of practicality, bears a striking resemblance to mod- ern subway maps. Another indispensable tool for Roman travelers was the milestone, or miliarium, a stone marker placed at regu- lar intervals along the roads. Milestones served as early navigation aids, providing critical information such as the distance to the nearest town or city, the road's name or designation, and some- times even the emperor or official responsible for its con- struction or repair. These markers were placed every Roman mile, roughly equiva- l e n t t o 1 , 4 8 0 m e t e r s ( 0 . 9 miles) and often included inscriptions detailing the road's construction. Emper- or Augustus, for instance, used milestones not only as practical tools but also as pro- paganda, emphasizing his role as a builder and unifier of the empire. By the time of Emperor Constantine, mile- stones connected Rome to every corner of the empire, symbolically reinforcing the idea that "all roads lead to Rome." For travelers, mile- stones acted as reliable way- points, helping them track t h e i r p r o g r e s s a n d a d j u s t their routes as needed. The concept of marking distances along roads proved so effec- tive that it remains an integral part of modern navigation systems. To further facilitate travel a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n , t h e Romans established the cur- sus publicus, a state-run postal and transportation net- work. Created by Emperor Augustus, it allowed officials, couriers, and travelers to cover long distances efficient- ly. It relied on a network of relay stations, the muta- tiones, where couriers could exchange tired horses for fresh ones, and mansiones, larger stations that provided food, rest, and shelter. These stations were strategically located along major roads, typically 15 to 20 miles apart, ensuring travelers could find support at regular intervals. For official travelers, the cur- sus publicus offered a swift and reliable means of trans- portation, with couriers carry- ing messages from the emper- or at remarkable speeds of up to 50 miles per day. Ordinary travelers could also benefit from these facilities, though they often had to pay for the services. While Roman infrastruc- ture and written guides were highly advanced, they were often supplemented by local knowledge and oral tradi- tions. Travelers frequently sought guidance from locals who were familiar with the terrain, weather conditions and potential hazards, a com- munal aspect of travel that highlights the reliance on human expertise in an era before standardized maps. Local inhabitants possessed invaluable knowledge that could not always be captured in written itineraries, making them essential allies for those n a v i g a t i n g u n f a m i l i a r regions. Despite the innovations, traveling in ancient Rome w a s n o t w i t h o u t c h a l - lenges. Roads, though mas- terfully constructed, were s u b j e c t t o w e a r a n d t e a r , e s p e c i a l l y d u r i n g h a r s h weather. Banditry was a con- stant threat, particularly in r e m o t e a r e a s w h e r e l a w enforcement was scarce. Sea travel, while faster than land routes, posed its own risks, including storms, piracy, and shipwrecks. The absence of precise maps also required travelers to plan meticulously, ensuring they carried enough food, water, and other provi- sions for the journey. However, it is undeniable that the Roman approach to travel was both practical and highly innovative: many man- siones along the roads were equipped with amenities such as baths, shops, and even entertainment, making them early examples of rest stops. And the durability of Roman roads, some of which remain visible and usable today, is another sign of our ancestors' engineering prowess. Wealth- i e r t r a v e l e r s o f t e n h i r e d guides, known as commen- tarienses, who specialized in navigating specific routes: these guides combined local knowledge with official itiner- aries, ensuring smooth and efficient journeys. Additional- ly, some relay stations issued tokens or receipts to official travelers, allowing them to access services along the way, just like our modern travel passes. The legacy of Roman travel systems is evident in many aspects of modern infrastruc- ture: their emphasis on con- n e c t i v i t y a n d p r a c t i c a l i t y i n f l u e n c e d m e d i e v a l a n d R e n a i s s a n c e m a p m a k e r s , who adapted itineraries into more detailed maps, while the schematic style of the Tabula Peutingeriana can be consid- ered a forerunner of contem- porary transportation maps, where clarity and usability often outweigh geographical accuracy. Milestones, with their clear markers of dis- tance and direction, laid the groundwork for modern road signage. Even the concept of relay stations for postal ser- vices evolved into contempo- rary mail and logistics net- works. The Romans' ability to tra- verse and administer a vast empire without modern maps is a sign of their ingenuity and adaptability: through the use o f i t i n e r a r i e s , s c h e m a t i c maps, milestones, the cursus publicus, and local knowl- edge, they created a cohesive n e t w o r k t h a t c o n n e c t e d diverse regions and cultures and enabled trade, communi- c a t i o n , a n d g o v e r n a n c e . Today, the legacy of Roman travel systems continues to influence our roads, maps, and navigation tools, offering a profound reminder of how ancient innovations shaped the modern world. GIULIA FRANCESCHINI Itineraria, milestones and the art of traveling like an Ancient Roman HERITAGE HISTORY IDENTITY TRADITIONS PEOPLE Ancient Romans traveling (Image created with DALL-E 2) and, bottom left, a detail of the Tabula Peutingeriana (Photo: Unknown author. Bibliotheca Augustana. Wikicommons. Public Domain)

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