I’m having a blast listening to Dead Ideas Podcast discuss a Steampunk Rome.
https://deadideas.net/2018/11/25/st...t-industrial-revolution-almost-roman-history/
They briefly touched on the contrast between the road system of Rome and the turnpikes of early industrial Britain. It occured to me that such a system would fit perfectly into the Roman way of doing things, especially during the Republic and Principate:
Contract out the maintanence of a given road to some publicani, who would maintain the road in exchange for the right to collect tolls. Stipulate maximum tolls they can charge, and exemptions, and then put the Via Appia out to bid.
1) Who else finds this very plausible, from a government that outsourced their own tax system?
2) What might this change?
https://deadideas.net/2018/11/25/st...t-industrial-revolution-almost-roman-history/
They briefly touched on the contrast between the road system of Rome and the turnpikes of early industrial Britain. It occured to me that such a system would fit perfectly into the Roman way of doing things, especially during the Republic and Principate:
Contract out the maintanence of a given road to some publicani, who would maintain the road in exchange for the right to collect tolls. Stipulate maximum tolls they can charge, and exemptions, and then put the Via Appia out to bid.
1) Who else finds this very plausible, from a government that outsourced their own tax system?
2) What might this change?