LOCOMOTION AND TRANSPORT. 



part be explained by the multitude of small states which formed 

 that confederation, by their conflicting interests, and their want 

 of any moral or social sympathies. The common sentiment of 

 nationality slumbered, except when it was awakened by the strong 

 stimulus of foreign attack. The intercourse between one centre 

 of population and another was then very restrained, and although 

 the public ways were placed under the protection of the gods, and 

 the direction of the most considerable men of the respective 

 states, they were suffered to fall into neglect. The exigencies of 

 internal commerce were never sufficiently pressing to excite the 

 people to contribute to the maintenance of good means of inter- 

 communication and exchange. 



6. The earliest roads which were really rendered conducive to the 

 purposes of commerce, on any considerable scale, were those con- 

 structed by the Phenicians and Carthaginians. To the latter is 

 ascribed, by Isidore, the invention of paved roads. 



7. When imperial Rome attained the meridian of her power, and 

 her empire extended over a large portion of Europe and Asia, 

 colossal enterprises were entered upon for the construction of vast 

 lines of communication, extending over the immensity of her 

 territory. These roads, however, like those of the Egyptians, 

 were constructed without the slightest view to commercial objects. 

 It concerned imperial Rome but little, that her provinces should 

 be united by commercial or social interests. What she looked to 

 was to be enabled to convey with celerity her powerful legions at 

 all times from one extremity of her dominions to another. With 

 this purpose, she availed herself of her vast resources to construct 

 those military roads, intersecting her territory, the remains of 

 which have excited the admiration of succeeding generations. 



The first of these great monuments of the enterprise and art of 

 the Roman people were those so well known by the names of the 

 Via Appia, the Yia Aurelia, and the Yia Flaminia. Under 

 Julius Caesar, communications were made by paved roads between 

 the capital of the empire and all the chief towns. During the last 

 African war, a paved road was constructed from Spain, through 

 Gaul, to the Alps. Subsequently similar lines of communication 

 were carried through Savoy, Dauphine', Provence, through 

 Germany, through a part of Spain, through Gaul, and even to 

 Constantinople. 



Asia Minor, Hungary, and Macedonia were overspread with 

 similar lines of communication, which were carried to the mouths 

 of the Danube. Nor was this vast enterprise obstructed by the 

 intervention of seas. The great lines which terminated on the 

 shores of continental Europe were continued at the nearest points 

 of the neighbouring islands and continents. Thus, Sicily, Corsica, 

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