Highways, Byways, and Road Systems in the Pre-Modern World reveals the significance and interconnectedness of early civilizations pathways. This international collection of readings providing a description and comparative analysis of several sophisticated systems of transport and communication across pre-modern cultures. Offers a comparative analysis of several sophisticated systems of overland transport and communication networks across pre-modern cultures Addresses the burgeoning interest in connectivity and globalization in ancient history, archaeology, anthropology, and recent work in network analysis Explores the societal, cultural, and religious implications of various transportation networks around the globe Includes contributions from an international team of scholars with expertise on pre-modern India, China, Japan, the Americas, North Africa, Europe, and the Near East Structured to encourage comparative thinking across case studies

Highways, Byways, and Road Systems in the Pre-Modern Worldreveals the significance and interconnectedness of earlycivilizations' pathways. This international collection ofreadings providing a description and comparative analysis ofseveral sophisticated systems of transport and communication acrosspre-modern cultures.* Offers a comparative analysis of several sophisticated systemsof overland transport and communication networks across pre-moderncultures* Addresses the burgeoning interest in connectivity andglobalization in ancient history, archaeology, anthropology, andrecent work in network analysis* Explores the societal, cultural, and religious implications ofvarious transportation networks around the globe* Includes contributions from an international team of scholarswith expertise on pre-modern India, China, Japan, the AmericasNorth Africa, Europe, and the Near East* Structured to encourage comparative thinking across casestudies

List of Figures and Tables ixNotes on Contributors xiiiSeries Editor's Preface xviiPreface xixIntroduction 1Susan E. Alcock, John Bodel, and Richard J. A. Talbert1 Overland Shortcuts for the Transmission of Buddhism 12Jason Neelis2 The Power of Highway Networks during China's ClassicalEra (323 BCE-316 CE): Regulations, Metaphors, Rituals, andDeities 33Michael Nylan3 Privatizing the Network: Private Contributions and RoadInfrastructure in Late Imperial China (1500-1900) 66Nanny KimAppendix: Chinese Quotations and Glossary 844 Linking the Realm: The Gokaidô Highway Network in EarlyModern Japan (1603-1868) 90Constantine N. Vaporis5 Obliterated Itineraries: Pueblo Trails, Chaco Roads, andArchaeological Knowledge 106James E. Snead6 Roads to Ruins: The Role of Sacbeob in Ancient MayaSociety 128Justine M. Shaw7 The Chinchaysuyu Road and the Definition of an Inca ImperialLandscape 147Catherine Julien8 The Sahara as Highway for Trade and Knowledge 168Pekka Masonen9 From the Indus to the Mediterranean: The AdministrativeOrganization and Logistics of the Great Roads of the AchaemenidEmpire 185Pierre Briant10 The Well-Remembered Path: Roadways and Cultural Memory inPtolemaic and Roman Egypt 202Jennifer Gates-Foster11 Roads, Integration, Connectivity, and Economic Performance inthe Roman Empire 222R. Bruce Hitchner12 Roads Not Featured: A Roman Failure to Communicate? 235Richard J. A. Talbert13 Road Connectivity and the Structure of Ancient Empires: ACase Study from Late Antiquity 255Michael Maas and Derek Ruths14 Jews and News: The Interaction of Private and OfficialCommunication-Networks in Jewish History 265Adam SilversteinIndex 276