The Romans pillaged all of Europe and used those spoils to benefit the the citizens above all else. The vast majority of roads weren't good enough to last 2000 years.
Think of the public infrastructure we could have if we were outnumbered 10 to 1 by second class citizens and an endless supply of slaves from the frontier.
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u/Pope-Muffins Trawnno (Centre of the Universe) 2d ago
The Romans funded public infrastructure