Karak Resources Project

What routes did the roads follow? Since the major roads were built to serve the needs of the military, the routes usually connected major military sites and administrative centers. However, due to various constant natural features of the land such as the topography, types of soil and rock, locations of streams and water, and climate and vegetation, the Roman routes often followed earlier routes. Thus, roads like the Via Nova paralleled earlier routes in some places, but in others created new lines of travel. The main consideration in the selection of the route was the establishment of a road that would provide firm footing for infantry in all weather. Therefore, steeper grades than what would have been normal for wagons were acceptable, and strait routes, or routes as strait as reasonably allowed by the terrain, were preferred. There was no standard design regarding building materials, width, and many other factors associated with the roads. However, the more important viae publicae were wider (at least the width of two vehicles or approx 5 meters/16 feet wide), built of more durable material such as stone, and were carefully maintained. These general practices can be seen from portions of the Via Nova that still exist. For example, there is a 6 to 10 percent grade on preserved portions of the c. 5.5 meter/18 foot wide road on the southern side of the steep valley of the Wadi Hasa.