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Most people are familiar with the expression “all roads lead to Rome,” but few know that the Roman road known as the <i>Via Appia,</i> or Appian Way, was known by the Romans as the “Queen of Roads.” The Appian Way was not the first road built in Italy, but it was the first in the series of roads that connected the capital city to its vast empire and which can still be seen today in its original form in many parts of the country. An examination of the Appian Way reveals that it played an extremely important role throughout the history of the Roman Republic (509-27 BC). On a logistical level, it connected Rome at an early time with cities and regions in southern Italy, thereby bringing those places under Rome’s political hegemony. The Appian Way also helped to facilitate trade between the south and north and was used extensively in times of war.

===Appius Claudius Caecus===

The idea of roads was not a new concept in the world or even Italy when the Appian Way was built in the fourth century BC. The Etruscans are credited with building the first roads in northern Italy, <ref> Sitwell, N.H.H. <i>Roman Roads of Europe.</i> (New York: Saint Martin’s Press, 1981), p. 16</ref> but those roads were inferior to the later Roman versions because they did not use concrete. By the time the Roman Republic began expanding outside of central Italy in late fourth century BC, the city’s prominent leaders knew that a network of permanent roads that could withstand the elements was needed. They endeavored to build a network of stone and concrete roads that would all lead to Rome with the Appian Way being the first, which is how it earned the moniker “Queen of the Roads.” The Appian Way was also the only Roman road to be named after the praenomen or personal name of a Roman. <ref> MacBain, Bruce. “Appius Claudius Caecus and the Via Appia.” <i>Classical Quarterly.</i> 30 (1980) p. 361</ref>

===The Creation of the Road===

While Appius was still a relatively young man and holding the important title of censor, he came up with the idea of a road that would connect Rome to its new colonies in the south. When construction began on the Appian Way in 312 BC, Appius, as well as other leading men in the Roman Republic, saw it as a economic and political boon for their city. Essentially, Appius saw the road as a way to change Rome’s agrarian based economy to one in which commerce played a bigger role. <ref> Stavely, p. 419</ref> The Romans particularly coveted the fertile lands just to the south of Rome around the city of Capua. The first century BC Greek geographer, Strabo, noted that the region was a prime location for wine production:

By the time the Appian Way was completed in the early third century BC, it stretched from Rome in the north to Brundisium in the far south of Italy in the heel of the country. The Emperor Trajan (ruled AD 53-117) later added an alternative route that diverged from the original road in Beneventum, passing through south-central Italy before reconnecting with the Appian Way in Brundisium. In total, the road stretched about 350 miles and for most of Roman history was well maintained. Engineers made sure that damaged sections were repaired and a number of way stations and inns could be found every few miles for weary travelers. <ref> Hamblin and Grunsfeld, p. 55</ref> The Appian Way was perhaps the best known and most traveled of all the Roman Vias, but it not only helped facilitate trade and political machinations – several great armies marched on its cement surface.

===Some Notable Events on the Appian Way===

After it was built, the Appian Way was the scene of many major historical events well into the modern period. During the Republic, most of the events were battles and wars, the first of which was the Pyrrhic War (280-275 BC). The Pyrrhic War was fought between Rome and the Greek kingdom of Epirus, led by King Pyrrhus (318-272 BC), over control of the southeastern Italian coastal city of Tarentum. The Romans wished to incorporate Tarentum into their growing republic, but Epirus resisted its efforts based on the argument that the city was originally founded by Greek colonists. Pyrrhus won most of the early battles in the war, although at great cost to his army – hence the modern term “Pyrrhic Victory” – and 275 BC the Greek king appeared ready to march on Rome with his large army that included a number of elephant troops. Instead, the Romans used the Appian Way to transport their army quickly to Beneventum, where they met the Greeks on the famous road.

===Conclusion===

The Appian Way was called the “Queen of Roads” by the Romans for a number of reasons. Besides being the first in their well-made and intricate series of Vias that connected the provinces to Rome, it provided economic and political benefits to both Rome and southern Italy. Eventually, the Appian Way helped integrate southern Italy more thoroughly into the Republic, helping make the people of the region full-fledged Roman citizens. The Appian Way was also important because it was the scene of some of the Roman Republic’s most important wars. The Romans fought for their very survival along the Appian Way and learned how it could be used to both their benefit and detriment. Truly, the Appian Way was perhaps the most important road in Roman history, especially during the Republican period.

===References===

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