In the first two hundred years AD, the Romans built many roads in Africa, including a 2,100-mile highway along the continent’s northern coast, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Nile River. One of those roads, built in the colonial town of Timgad in the northern part of modern-day Algeria, can be seen here.
Timgad was founded around 100 AD by Emperor Trajan. According to Amusing Planet, it was originally a military colony built to defend against the Berbers. It has not been inhabited since the end of the eighth century.
Timgad exemplifies the grid plan, a Roman city planning method in which roads meet one another at right angles. All the houses were the same size and land was divided equally among natives and colonists, although only Roman citizens could live there. Any man could earn Roman citizenship through military service. Discovered in 1881, Timgad is also known for water and sewage systems that were quite advanced for the time. According to World Heritage Site, Timgad was the first city built on that land and therefore its planning and construction were not affected by earlier layouts.
Much of the city of Timgad, including its roads, remains intact; its remains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Screengrab via Youtube
