The article tells about what a road is, what types it is. What is the importance of message paths? What old roads have survived to this day?
Ancient times
From time immemorial, when the first towns and cities arose, people realized the importance of reliable roads. A particularly strong need for them appeared with the development of trade relations and military operations, as was the case in the Roman Empire.
Initially, all roads were natural and unpaved, formed during the trampling of the surface. By the way, similar ones are still preserved all over the world. However, they became unusable when climatic conditions changed (rain, winter). And the traffic itself used to be not as lively as in our times: often the roads were tritely overgrown. What does road mean in the dictionary? What is its significance, besides ease of movement? When did the first stone roads appear? We will talk about this in the article.
What is a road: definition
According to encyclopedic terminology, a road is a way of communication for people or vehicles, which for the most partforms a developed infrastructure.
Naturally, the very first dirt roads could not survive, we don't know anything about them. But among the artificial ones can be attributed the paths found on the territory of modern England and Mesopotamia, their approximate age dates back to the 4th millennium BC. e. One of the oldest is considered to be again discovered in England the road, which received the name Sweet Track. It survived because it was built by laying oak, ash and maple trunks on the ground. Now we know what a road is. By the way, the roads of ancient Moscow were also paved with a similar method. As it decayed and collapsed, a new layer was added. There is an assumption that some areas of the city are several meters higher because of this.
The need for reliable communications arose not just because of the desire to travel easily and cheerfully, without looking at your feet, but because of the development of cart transport. And by the way, when analyzing the question of what a road is, an interesting fact should be mentioned. The width of the Roman roads that were built in Europe was calculated for a war chariot, and this parameter became decisive for future traffic routes. Some of them have survived to this day, for example, on the remains of the ancient city of Pompeii.
Almost two millennia after the invention of the steam engine, the railroad became widespread.
Trains
In the US in 1830, a little later in the Russian Empire, the first railways began to appear. In our country, the firstthe line was stretched from St. Petersburg to Tsarskoye Selo. But what is the reason for such a costly way of building?
The thing is that at that time, and even today, such roads are considered one of the most reliable. Even at the beginning of a new era on the first primitive steam locomotives, the cost of transporting goods was quite low. In addition, in conditions when long-distance travel could only be carried out on carts or ships, railway tracks were a real revolution. So now we know what a road is, including a railway, and what is its importance.
To this day, despite the development of air traffic and the improvement of highways, trains remain an important strategic and economic factor. They are unpretentious in the form of fuel, and if necessary, even old steam locomotives come into action, which can do with coal and water alone.
The railway is in all states, and for a number of underdeveloped countries it is practically the only way for ordinary people to move around the country and transport goods. And in India, by the way, passengers even climb onto the roofs of wagons, because of which they often die.
Famous Railways
Probably the most famous such road is the Trans-Siberian Railway, which stretches across our country. It is also the longest in the world. Also worth mentioning is the grandiose construction of the BAM - the Baikal-Amur Mainline.
Roads
With the extensive development of motor transport at the beginning of the 20th century, the need arose for high-quality and evenroads. After all, where a horse and cart could pass, the car could get bogged down in the mud. And poor coating contributed to the rapid wear of engine and suspension parts.
Road threads entangle almost the entire globe where there is land. But the seas are not a problem either, in this case long bridges come to the rescue.
Motorways can also be tolled: money is collected in order to limit the amount of "extra" traffic and constantly maintain the asph alt in good condition, without waiting for municipal repairs.
There is also a division into public roads and expressways. The latter are distinguished by several lanes, the absence of obstacles in the form of tram tracks and railway crossings.
