Part A
Short-Answer Questions
Directions: Analyze the documents and answer the short-answer questions that follow each document in the
space provided.
Document 1
Purposes and Kinds of Roman Roads
Why did the Romans build roads? The Romans considered a well-organized and efficient
transportation system a basic element of proper administration; i.e. an indispensable element in
creating and maintaining the Roman state. The earliest highways or main roads were constructed
for the use of the military, and their economic benefit for civilians was a later byproduct and not
the main reason for their creation. The military nature of the roads continued to be essential as
Romans expanded into territory outside Italy. In the province of Arabia Petraea (which included
what is now Jordan), the movement of troops and ease of communication for the army and
Roman administration were the primary reasons for construction of the Via Nova, one of the
many viae militares or military roads built in conquered provinces. However, smaller, shorter,
and less well-constructed local roads (actus) or tracks (callis) also increased in territory after it
was brought under Roman control. Nevertheless, the main public highways (viae publicae)
normally began as military roads and only gradually evolved into civilian conduits [passageways].
Source: Virtual Karak Resources Project, An Appalachian College Association (adapted)

Based on this excerpt from the Virtual Karak Resources Project, what was one way the Romans used
roads to control their empire?