Traveling by car for contemporaries has long been the norm, so the meaning of some words gradually receded into the background and was forgotten. The younger generation hardly understands the difference between road and street and is not always able to answer what a “highway” is. And the term is significant for the whole of humanity, it is considered a historical milestone, which greatly facilitated the delivery of goods and passengers.
What do historians have there?
If you look into the past, you will see a bleak picture: thousands of threads of trampled land on which not a single blade of grass grows. Some stones filled with muddy water pits, constant dirt. The roads of the past are capable of shocking any motorist from the 21st century; moving along them is a serious test. Among the thousands of wide paths you saw an even loose path? Then know what a highway is:
- compacted soil;
- flooring made of fine stone, gravel;
- slopes at the edges to drain water.
A real breakthrough! With high quality work, even with minimal depreciation, you will not get tired of a long trip, and fragile loads will be safe. River spills, bad weather and heavy snowfalls will not prevent travelers at all.
What about today?
With the development of industry and the advent of new materials, the definition has slightly changed. Now, for a road surface, choose something more solid, homogeneous and durable:
Maximum comfort with a fair reduction in costs. Sometimes confusion arises: the city road and the highway are practically indistinguishable from each other. However, the first term is a bit broader, and in the conditions of a settlement, slopes for water drainage are replaced by storm sewers. A small nuance does not allow us to refer to the word under study.
It can also be used in other situations, depending on the historical context. So, on the territory of Russia and some other states, any road leading from the city is designated as a “highway”. That this is the case is confirmed by various documents: trade routes were often better equipped than crossings inside the settlement. As a result, an additional interpretation appeared. Sometimes when the settlement grew, such paths found themselves within the borders, but retained the toponym.
Is there a simple explanation?
The specifics of construction technology, its significance for history, is not of interest to everyone. And if a child asks what a highway is, feel free to talk about a special road. Explain the hard surface and elevation above the surrounding area so that the water drains during rain and does not interfere with cars. And better to show everything during a family trip out of town.