Editing Appian Way (section)

=== Development ===
The Appian Way was a [[Roman roads|Roman road]] that the [[Roman Republic|Republic]] used as a main route for military supplies for its conquest of southern Italy in 312 BC and for improvements in communication.<ref>William Smith, ''Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography'' (London, 1854), 1288. ''[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:entry=via-appia-geo]''</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rodgers |first=Nigel |url= |title=Roman Empire |date=2008 |publisher=Metro Books |isbn=978-1-4351-0455-6 |location=New York |page=116 |language=en}}</ref>

The Appian Way&nbsp;— essential to the Romans&nbsp;— was the first long road built specifically to transport troops outside the smaller region of greater [[Rome]]. The few roads outside the early city were [[Etruscan civilization|Etruscan]] and went mainly to [[Etruria]]. By the late Republic, the Romans had expanded over most of [[Italy]] and were masters of road construction. Their roads began at Rome, where the master {{lang|la|[[itinerarium]]}}, or list of destinations along the roads, was located, and extended to the borders of their domain, hence the expression, "[[wikt:all roads lead to Rome|All roads lead to Rome]]".