The Quality of East Roman Roads

Abstract: This article challenges the current scholarly consensus that East Roman roads declined in quality beginning in the fourth century ce and fell into widespread disrepair in the Byzantine period, resulting in narrower roads and a shift from wheeled to animal traffic. It begins by surveying arguments for the low quality of East Roman roads and demonstrating that the available evidence has been misinterpreted or overstated. It then surveys the available documentary, literary, and archaeological evidence for the quality and maintenance of the roads from the fourth century until 1204, with a special emphasis on legal and military sources. Based on this evidence, it argues that major Roman roadways were well-maintained throughout this period. The article concludes by reflecting on the reasons for the widespread misinterpretation of the evidence for East Roman roads.