There have been many books on Britain's Roman roads, but none have
considered in any depth their long-term strategic impact. Mike Bishop
shows how the road network was vital not only in the Roman strategy of
conquest and occupation, but influenced the course of British military
history during subsequent ages.
The author starts with the pre-Roman origins of the network (many Roman
roads being built over prehistoric routes) before describing how the
Roman army built, developed, maintained and used it. Then, uniquely, he
moves on to the post-Roman history of the roads. He shows how they were
crucial to medieval military history (try to find a medieval battle that
is not near one) and the governance of the realm, fixing the itinerary
of the royal progresses. Their legacy is still clear in the building of
18th century military roads and even in the development of the modern
road network. Why have some parts of the network remained in use
throughout?
The text is supported with clear maps and photographs.
Most books on Roman roads are concerned with cataloguing or tracing
them, or just dealing with aspects like surveying. This one makes them
part of military landscape archaeology.