Route of Aqua Traiana shown in red We don't often think of infrastructure as an essential part of the Rule of Law, but in many ways the creation by the state of public works for the benefit of society is essential to sustaining government under the Rule of Law. Certainly, public needs like the provision of fresh water, roads, and other projects for the benefit of society can be created by without the intervention of government, but usually this results in the benefits being prohibitively costly and available only to a privileged few. The Roman system of aqueducts, not just for the benefit of Rome but for many Roman cities across its empire, are an example of public works that benefited all society. Roman aqueducts not only provided water for drinking and bathing, but were used to power mills and provide decorative fountains in public places.
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