Why did the Romans build straight roads?
The building of roads like these meant that soldiers could move about quickly through the empire. Merchants could also bring their goods to the most far away provinces like Britain. They brought silver, glass, lamps, marble, linen, and emeralds to sell to the Romans and Britons. When the walls were constructed at Venta Icenorum, the size of the town was reduced by 14 hectares (about half the original size). The illustration of the street layout at Caistor Roman Town opposite shows how the defences have destroyed some of the streets.
