Taco Terpstra

“That is really where the major connectivity lies.”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra said the major connectivity of the Roman Empire lay in maritime transportation.

“These were in the first place, after the conquest, intended to move troops quickly.”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra explained that roads were intended to move troops quickly after conquest.

“Before that, it was a sleepy fishing town called Byzantium,”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra explained that Constantinople was previously a fishing town called Byzantium.

“was only created as such in the fourth century.”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra noted that Constantinople was only created as a capital in the fourth century.

“Rome is the center of the empire. This is where power lies,”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra said Rome remained the center of political, military and ideological power for centuries.

“about as straight as the Romans could make them”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra commented on the straightness of Roman roads given the technology available at the time.

“The main transportation network of the Roman Empire is maritime,”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra said the main transportation network of the Roman Empire was maritime.

“So, we have to be careful a little bit about what time period we’re looking at.”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra cautioned about being careful regarding which time period is being examined.

“The roads in the first instance, and it’s often forgotten, were military infrastructure,”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra said Roman roads were initially military infrastructure, which is often forgotten.

“But once Constantinople becomes de facto the capital of the empire, it is clear that it attracts a lot of overland connectivity.”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra said Constantinople attracted a lot of overland connectivity once it became the capital.

“This is where the emperor is. This is where the Senate is. ... [It was the] largest city in the empire, a million inhabitants.”

Taco Terpstra · said date not stated · reported 2026-09-22

Terpstra noted Rome was where the emperor and Senate were and was the largest city in the empire.