The First Tracks - A Brief History
Most likely the first tracks were made by beasts, although we shall never know for sure. Perhaps the galloping of hooves of animals looking for food and water cleared the first paths through the grass?
We do know that primitive tracks existed long before the invention of the wheel, although when the wheel did arrived it changed everything, and roads had to be surfaced to resist wear and tear. Even in the earliest days of overland international trading, mankind built roads paved with stone, and Romans in particular built some magnificent stone highways. |
These incredible feats of engineering were built above the level of the surrounding countryside and "cambered", that is, curved on the surface, with the highest point in the middle of the road. Rainwater would simply run off the surface into ditches designed to carry it away. Roman roads were built in a variety of ways, depending on the kind of land they crossed. Tunnels and bridges were used and, on all but the most insignificant routes, stones on the surface and secondary layers were bound together with cement. Relay stations became a feature of these roads, and here a rider could get refreshment and a change of horse.
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