Revisiting the Via Nova Traiana
A workshop organized by Centre Director Rubina Raja and PhD student Mette Lang examines Roman transport infrastructure in modern-day Jordan.
As the Roman Empire expanded, the need to create and maintain a communication network increased, resulting in massive investment in constructing roads across the Empire. Between AD 111-114, this resulted in a new highway in what is now Jordan, connecting Bostra in the north with Aqaba in the south. Through Aqaba – a major Red Sea harbour – this linked travelers to the Indian Ocean world. While the Via Nova Traiana has been studied for many years, the UrbNet workshop will illustrate how much potential remains for future research.
How did the construction of Via Nova Traiana affect daily life in the region? What do the archaeological finds from the area tell us about the nature of trade? What was the role of the military in the construction, administration, and use of the road? These are some of the questions that this one-day event will address through a range of intriguing papers by renowned specialists.
The workshop will take place on October 10th 2024 for invited speakers and will form the basis of an edited volume.