Posted on 02/12/2022 2:36:52 PM PST by SunkenCiv
The Roman Empire used the Visigoths and other German tribes as elite troops to protect the emperor from both the plebeians (Deplorables) and the aristocracy as well. The Roman Empire initially let in the Visigoths as refugees fleeing the Huns and then used and abused them. The bulk of the tribesmen were poor and heavily abused by Romans and Roman law until the Visigoths revolted and they seized Rome and brought down the Empire.
Not just Big Rigs but 1,000 horsepower Big Rigs packing 40 tons at 70 miles per hour. And the Italians didn’t invent the radar gun. I remember driving I80 across the whole 400 miles of Nebraska about 1988. Every concrete slab had “shingled” about 2” and I could only do about 40 to keep the trailer attached. They were just starting to rip it up. Nobody seems to remember but there is evidence the Romans stole some of that road stone from the Egyptians——took down one of the big pyramids. I guess Ike didn’t want to use African rocks?
When the first 180 miles of the PA Tpke was built between Carlisle and Butler before WW2 it was completed in less than 2 years, one of the few govt projects finished ahead of schedule and under budget. And it entailed building tunnels through the Alleghenies, amazing considering the relatively primitive technology back then. Here in FL they’ve been working on widening a 6 mile stretch of US 19 between Homossassa and Crystal River for the last 6 years and they’re still playing in the dirt. 🤔😖
I worked on a dirt road being paved back in 1964. Lots of grave hauled in, leveled, then road graded back up and spread out again, then graded up again, over and over all summer.
Finally they got the gravel down again, sprayed oil and gravel over it. DONE!
Within a year it was breaking up.
Saw another dirt road being paved. Hot mix asphalt was used. After forty forty five years it is still good.
That may as well say limestone.
Limestone is highly permeable to water. Basically, a sponge.
Most states have some snow or ice in the winter and that means Salt treatment of roads.
Salt (sodium chloride) is water soluble.
Water baring salt is absorbed by the limestone in the road, either the limestone aggregate in asphalt roads or concrete roads.
We have the technology to make roads that will last centuries. We just have bad laws.
They look to be in better condition than any road in the northeast after one winter.
Nope.
Not even close.
The Romans didn’t tear down any pyramids.
Concrete roads wick up water, which is in abundance here in Michigan ([singing] the beautiful state, the roads are deeper than the lakes). Around 20 years ago some geniuses tore out one of the stretches of one of the interstates, right down to nothin’, laid a new bed, then laid down asphalt, then poured the concrete over that. Worked great. I think that’s now the common practice here.
Thanks all!
Yes for the highways built in Illinois.
The Appian Way (originally 4th c BC) is the one most often seen by tourists I think, butt it was a busy route in Roman times, and was repaired perhaps five times (at least stretches were). Its current condition is passable, not bad considering the Emperor hasn't sent out repair crews in a while. :^)
The climate helps somewhat. OTOH, there are Roman bridges in Spain that remained in use for vehicular traffic until about 40 years ago.
Hey, the barbarian migrations of Europe could fit into an encyclopedia set let alone in just a few sentences. That was about as brief and concise of a synopsis of what happened that you are ever going to find find that short of a paragraph. No apologies.
Please go forth and pontificate on the subject if you have any objections.
I like Dr. Ryan...his videos are usually unique and interesting and his book is entertaining.
Apian way still in use for 2300 years. We can’t make a road last 20 years.
10-4 good buddy.😁
“One of the coolest things - in Pompeii - small chips of reflective/fluorescent stones for nighttime.”
I find this fascinating. I wonder what it was like driving down a Roman road in a chariot or wagon or whatever in the dark. I wonder if there were lots of highway robbers along the way and how the Romans protected themselves. Did they only travel at night in groups, or did they go it alone. And someone on this thread mentioned beacons. What’s up with that? How did that work?
IF the road crumbled it is possible the construction crew wouldn’t be around for the rebuild. Empires have a way of bringing out quality work.
Interesting thing about the bridges and aqueducts, the ones that have endured are mostly those set without mortar — mortar just crumbles out over time. That has happened with their old roads.
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