The Slow World of Early Modern Travel

Before the transportation revolution of the 18th century, mobility in Europe was painfully limited. A traveler from the modern era transported to the 1600s would be shocked by the lack of movement—journeys that now take hours once required days or even weeks. Roads were little more than muddy tracks, often impassable in rain or sun. As one 18th-century British observer noted, these paths were “more the abode of beasts and creeping things than the footsteps of men.”

Even major routes were barely distinguishable from forest trails, remnants of the long-neglected Roman road system. Most people traveled no faster than walking speed, with only the wealthy able to afford horse-drawn carriages—luxuries that were expensive, uncomfortable, and often slower than walking. Scottish poet Robert Fergusson captured the exhaustion of travel in 1774:

> “I dread, with footing sair and slow,
> To journey on to Berwick.”

The Road to Improvement: France and Britain Lead the Way

France, under the guidance of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV’s finance minister, became the first to attempt systematic road reform. In 1669, roads were classified into royal, provincial, and local routes, with centralized maintenance. However, progress was slow, and by 1700, many “royal highways” remained unusable.

Real improvements came in the mid-18th century with better engineering and increased funding. Travel times between major French cities halved—Paris to Bordeaux dropped from 15 days in 1660 to just 5.5 days by 1789. Arthur Young, the sharp-eyed British traveler, praised France’s roads as “magnificent” and “solid,” though he noted their underuse compared to England’s bustling highways.

Britain, meanwhile, pioneered a different model: the turnpike system. Private trusts funded road improvements in exchange for tolls, creating a network of smoother, faster routes. By 1770, over 500 trusts managed 24,000 km of turnpike roads. Travel times plummeted—London to Manchester, once a grueling four-day journey, was reduced to just 36 hours by 1815.

The Social and Economic Impact of Faster Travel

The transportation revolution reshaped society in profound ways:

– Economic Growth: Improved roads and canals allowed goods to move faster and cheaper, integrating regional markets.
– Cultural Exchange: Increased mobility spread ideas, fashions, and news, eroding local isolation.
– Social Disruption: Critics like John Byng lamented that roads “brought London manners into the countryside,” displacing traditional ways of life.
– Crime and Congestion: Faster travel also meant more highway robbery, while cities like London faced unprecedented traffic jams.

The Rise of Canals: Waterways as Economic Highways

Where roads struggled with heavy cargo, canals offered a solution. A single horse could pull a 30-ton barge—far more efficient than land transport. France’s Canal du Midi (1681), linking the Atlantic and Mediterranean, was a marvel of engineering. Britain’s canal boom began later but proved transformative, with the Bridgewater Canal (1761) slashing coal transport costs and spurring industrial growth.

The Postal Revolution: Communication Accelerates

Just as roads and canals sped up physical movement, postal reforms revolutionized information flow. Britain’s mail-coach system (1784) cut delivery times dramatically—Edinburgh to London dropped from 3.5 days to just 60 hours. Private initiatives like William Dockwra’s penny post in London (1680) and Ralph Allen’s cross-post network (1720) expanded access to mail, fostering a culture of correspondence.

Legacy: The Foundations of Modern Mobility

The transportation revolution laid the groundwork for the Industrial Revolution and beyond. Faster travel and communication:

– Enabled mass migration from rural areas to cities.
– Integrated national economies, paving the way for industrialization.
– Shaped modern timekeeping, as schedules became precise.
– Inspired infrastructure projects that continue today, from highways to high-speed rail.

As historian David Landes noted, by the time railways arrived, Europeans were already “psychologically and chronometrically prepared” for the next leap in mobility. The slow, fragmented world of the 17th century had given way to an era of unprecedented connection—one that still defines our lives today.