Ab Asturica Burdigalam facts for kids

Ab Asturica Burdigalam was an important Roman road in ancient times. Its name means "from Astorga to Bordeaux." The Romans built this road to connect Asturica Augusta (today's Astorga) in Gallaecia (a Roman province in what is now Spain) with Burdigala (today's Bordeaux) in Aquitania (a Roman province in what is now France).

This road was also known as Via XXXIV. It was one of many roads that helped the Roman Empire control its vast lands. Roman roads were very well built. They allowed soldiers, traders, and messengers to travel quickly and safely.

What Was This Road For?

Roman roads like Ab Asturica Burdigalam were like the highways of the ancient world. They helped the Roman army move around easily. This was important for defending the empire and putting down rebellions.

The roads also helped with trade. Goods could be moved from one part of the empire to another. This helped cities grow and made the empire richer. People could also travel more easily, which helped spread Roman culture and ideas.

The Route of Via XXXIV

The Roman guide called the Antonine Itinerary lists the towns along this road. This guide was like an ancient map or travel book. It helped travelers know where they were going and how far it was between places.

Via XXXIV passed through several important places. These included Pallantia (Palencia) and Veleia (Iruña-Veleia). It also went through Pompaelo (Pamplona) and Iturissa.

One of the most famous parts of the road was the Summo Pyreneo. This means "the top of the Pyrenees." It refers to the Roncevaux pass, a mountain pass through the Pyrenees mountains. Crossing these mountains was a big challenge for travelers.

Later History of the Road

Over time, parts of the Ab Asturica Burdigalam road changed. In the Middle Ages, much of its path was used by the Way of St. James. This was a famous pilgrimage route for people traveling to Santiago de Compostela. While the two paths were similar in some areas, the Way of St. James often went a bit further south.

The Roman road was also used by many different groups throughout history. In the 5th century, groups like the Vandals, Alans, and Suebi likely used this route. They were moving into Hispania during a time of change for the Roman Empire.

Later, important figures like Charlemagne also used parts of the road. His armies traveled along it during their expeditions against Pamplona. Even much later, when Napoleon invaded Spain between 1808 and 1814, the section of the road in the Basque region was still in use. People even called it the "Route of Napoleon" for a while.

This shows how important and well-built the Roman roads were. They continued to be useful for hundreds of years after the Roman Empire ended.

See also

In Spanish: Vía XXXIV para niños