Question

In human memory, I believe that there is no account of a road as great as this, running through deep valleys, high mountains, banks of snow, torrents of water, living rocks, and wild rivers . . . In all places it was clean and swept free of refuse, with lodgings, storehouses, Sun temples, and posts along the route. Oh! Can anything similar be claimed for Alexander [the Great] or any of the [other] powerful kings who ruled the world . . .? —Pedro Cieza de Léon, Spanish explorer What was significant about the roads described here?

Answer 1

The significance is the descriptive evidence of the mountains and the valleys and that this is something they haven't seen before.

Answer 2

Answer:

They allowed armies and news to move rapidly throughout the empire.

Explanation:

Spanish explorer Pedro Cieza de Léon makes reference to the advanced engineering Inca roads system, which was used to transport goods, military forces and news throughout the vast empire. Besides, he describes the roads as clean and surrounded by different facilities, such as lodgins, storehouses, temples and posts. Thus, he claims that he has never learnt about such an important roads system from any other powerful figure in history.