What urban planning pattern organized Roman cities?

• A. Random alleyways
• B. Concentric walls
• C. Grid pattern
• D. Circular street rings

Answer: (C)

Roman cities were laid out with a deliberate grid. Builders drew straight streets that met at right angles to create rectangular blocks, with the two main avenues crossing at the forum—the cardo running north–south and the decumanus running east–west. This organized pattern made navigation straightforward, helped with land division for temples, baths, markets, and administration, and facilitated movement and defense across the city and along the empire’s road network. The grid reflects a practical, orderly approach that supported both civic life and military logistics, which is why it’s the characteristic pattern seen in Roman urban planning. Patterns like random alleyways, concentric walls, or circular street rings don’t match the standard Roman town layout, which centers on a planned, grid-based layout around a central public space.