Roman roads in Africa
In 42 AD the kingdom of Mauretania was annexed by Rome. Emperor Claudius then restored and widened a Carthaginian trail and extended it westwards as far as Tingis and southwards to Rabat. This way the Romans created a continuous coastal highway stretching for 2,100 miles from the Atlantic to the Nile. West of Carthage the road followed the coastline connecting the coastal towns. From Chillu, on the coast, it continued westwards to Icosium (Algiers), Caesaria (Cherchel), as far as Rusaddir (Melilla) and Tingis (Tangier). It then continued along the Atlantic coast through Iulia Constantia Zilil (Asilah), Lixus (Larache) and Sala Colonia (near Rabat).
Sources
- Euzennat, M., "Les voies romaines du Maroc dans l' Itineraire d' Antonin," Hommages à Albert Grenier (Bruxelles 1962) II, 595-610.
- P. Salama, Les voies romaines de l'Afrique du Nord, Alger, 1951