Roman Britain map reveals the ancient roads built 2,000 years ago that you still drive on today
A FASCINATING map reveals the ancient Roman roads Britons still use every day.
The 2,000-year-old highways include key routes around London, Manchester, Cardiff and Bath.
The map shows some of the UK's most important roads today, highlighting the ones built by Roman invaders.
In nearly four centuries of occupation between 43 and 410 AD, they constructed around 2,000 miles of roads in Britain, known to its occupants as "Britannia".
Along with aqueducts, coins, food and language, the paved highways were among the most important things brought to the UK by the Romans.
Their main remaining roads in Britain include Watling Street from Dover to St Albans, and Ermine Street from London to Lincoln and York.
The huge network of roads, largely complete by 180 AD, were designed to link key Roman strongholds by the most direct possible route.
As a result, the most are distinctively straight as they march for mile after mile across Britain.
The Romans were very particular about the way they built their roads, with many rules that were strictly followed by workers across the Empire.
By law, the minimum width of a road was fixed at 2.4m where it was straight, and 4.9m where it turned.
The Romans largely remained in the south of Britain, famously never managing to take Scotland from the country's violent Barbarian forces.
By 410 AD, the Empire was falling apart, and Roman rule ended in Britain when soldiers were recalled to Rome to protect other parts of it.
The Romans in Britain
Here's everything you need to know...
The Roman Empire conquered vast swathes of Europe, West Asia and North Africa.
A Roman force of 40,000 led by Aulus Plautius landed in Kent and took the south east in 43 AD.
Key tribal leaders surrendered, and within three years Britain was declared part of the Roman Empire.
Londinium (London) was founded in 47 AD and became the country's capital. Networks of roads were built across the country.
Over time, the Britons began to adopt Roman customs, such as towns, animals, a new religion and ways of reading and counting. The Romans even gave us the word "Britain";.
The Romans largely remained in the south of Britain, famously never managing to take Scotland from the country's violent Barbarian forces.
By 410 AD, the Empire was falling apart, and Roman rule ended in Britain when soldiers were recalled to Rome to protect other parts of it.
TOP STORIES IN SCIENCE
In other news, these Ancient Roman street maps of Britain reveal what your town looked like 1,900 years ago.
The face of Julius Caesar may have been revealed after cool 3D reconstruction.
Ancient rude graffiti carved into a Hadrian's Wall quarry has been unearthed 1,800 years after it was scrawled.
What do you think of the map? Let us know in the comments!
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.