Not only did all roads lead to Rome in the ancient world, they also led to modern-day prosperity. A new study has shown a remarkable correlation between the network of stone roads built by the Romans 2,000 years ago and cities, transport hubs and economic development today.

The spider’s web of Roman roads that were constructed from Hadrian’s Wall to North Africa and the Near East corresponds closely to contemporary patterns of urbanisation and industrialisation.

The similarity is particularly striking for modern-day London, Paris and Rome, as well as the Po Valley of northern Italy, where the Romans established Milan.

Danish economists from the University of Copenhagen said that their findings showed that Roman military and economic endeavours put down deep roots that persist to this day.

Carl-Johan Dalgaard and his team of researchers produced a map of roads across the Roman Empire when it was at its greatest geographical extent, in the year 117 AD.

They then compared it with a 2010 satellite image of contemporary Europe at night, with the most brightly illuminated areas indicating major cities, towns and motorways.