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Why does my island nation start building bridges?
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I’ve got a fantasy world in which the landmass is essentially a large series of archipelagos and island chains. For a real world comparison, think the Hawaiian islands in range of size and distance from island to island. For their early history, these islanders travellered to and fro for commerce and war in boats of various sizes and types. Later, however, an empire emerged that linked the nearby islands with a series of titanic bridges.
For the purposes of the question, don’t worry about the possibility of building these bridges; magic is in place that makes the work possible, but not easy. The question remains, why would this empire choose to put massive work in to build these bridges when a rich shipbuilding culture exists? In case it is relavant, the empire in question has approximately Antonine Rome’s technology besides the magic and is expanding in order to add strategic resources like iron and horses to its collection.
magic geography architecture empire-building
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
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up vote
1
down vote
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I’ve got a fantasy world in which the landmass is essentially a large series of archipelagos and island chains. For a real world comparison, think the Hawaiian islands in range of size and distance from island to island. For their early history, these islanders travellered to and fro for commerce and war in boats of various sizes and types. Later, however, an empire emerged that linked the nearby islands with a series of titanic bridges.
For the purposes of the question, don’t worry about the possibility of building these bridges; magic is in place that makes the work possible, but not easy. The question remains, why would this empire choose to put massive work in to build these bridges when a rich shipbuilding culture exists? In case it is relavant, the empire in question has approximately Antonine Rome’s technology besides the magic and is expanding in order to add strategic resources like iron and horses to its collection.
magic geography architecture empire-building
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
4
why did we build the brooklyn bridge when ferries existed, simple you can move more stuff and do it much faster on a bridge than a boat.
– John
8 hours ago
1
Storms? Changing winds from season to season? Strong currents? Volcanic islands with too abrupt coast-line? Reefs only a few sailors know how to avoid? Not needing to maintain ports for ships? Not paying taxes to use those ports?
– Alberto Yagos
8 hours ago
1
@AlbertoYagos - Good points, however - taxation is arbitrary. A state can invoke taxes on anything it wants, including bridges.
– Battle
6 hours ago
Have you think of anything that's stopping them from building a bridge?
– Mr.J
5 hours ago
1
Why do you want/need bridges in your world? Assuming you don't create a world randomly, you might have an idea why you want them. Please elaborate.
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
up vote
1
down vote
favorite
I’ve got a fantasy world in which the landmass is essentially a large series of archipelagos and island chains. For a real world comparison, think the Hawaiian islands in range of size and distance from island to island. For their early history, these islanders travellered to and fro for commerce and war in boats of various sizes and types. Later, however, an empire emerged that linked the nearby islands with a series of titanic bridges.
For the purposes of the question, don’t worry about the possibility of building these bridges; magic is in place that makes the work possible, but not easy. The question remains, why would this empire choose to put massive work in to build these bridges when a rich shipbuilding culture exists? In case it is relavant, the empire in question has approximately Antonine Rome’s technology besides the magic and is expanding in order to add strategic resources like iron and horses to its collection.
magic geography architecture empire-building
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
I’ve got a fantasy world in which the landmass is essentially a large series of archipelagos and island chains. For a real world comparison, think the Hawaiian islands in range of size and distance from island to island. For their early history, these islanders travellered to and fro for commerce and war in boats of various sizes and types. Later, however, an empire emerged that linked the nearby islands with a series of titanic bridges.
For the purposes of the question, don’t worry about the possibility of building these bridges; magic is in place that makes the work possible, but not easy. The question remains, why would this empire choose to put massive work in to build these bridges when a rich shipbuilding culture exists? In case it is relavant, the empire in question has approximately Antonine Rome’s technology besides the magic and is expanding in order to add strategic resources like iron and horses to its collection.
magic geography architecture empire-building
magic geography architecture empire-building
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
asked 8 hours ago
greenmaster
1426
1426
4
why did we build the brooklyn bridge when ferries existed, simple you can move more stuff and do it much faster on a bridge than a boat.
– John
8 hours ago
1
Storms? Changing winds from season to season? Strong currents? Volcanic islands with too abrupt coast-line? Reefs only a few sailors know how to avoid? Not needing to maintain ports for ships? Not paying taxes to use those ports?
– Alberto Yagos
8 hours ago
1
@AlbertoYagos - Good points, however - taxation is arbitrary. A state can invoke taxes on anything it wants, including bridges.
– Battle
6 hours ago
Have you think of anything that's stopping them from building a bridge?
– Mr.J
5 hours ago
1
Why do you want/need bridges in your world? Assuming you don't create a world randomly, you might have an idea why you want them. Please elaborate.
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
4
why did we build the brooklyn bridge when ferries existed, simple you can move more stuff and do it much faster on a bridge than a boat.
– John
8 hours ago
1
Storms? Changing winds from season to season? Strong currents? Volcanic islands with too abrupt coast-line? Reefs only a few sailors know how to avoid? Not needing to maintain ports for ships? Not paying taxes to use those ports?
– Alberto Yagos
8 hours ago
1
@AlbertoYagos - Good points, however - taxation is arbitrary. A state can invoke taxes on anything it wants, including bridges.
– Battle
6 hours ago
Have you think of anything that's stopping them from building a bridge?
– Mr.J
5 hours ago
1
Why do you want/need bridges in your world? Assuming you don't create a world randomly, you might have an idea why you want them. Please elaborate.
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
4
4
why did we build the brooklyn bridge when ferries existed, simple you can move more stuff and do it much faster on a bridge than a boat.
– John
8 hours ago
why did we build the brooklyn bridge when ferries existed, simple you can move more stuff and do it much faster on a bridge than a boat.
– John
8 hours ago
1
1
Storms? Changing winds from season to season? Strong currents? Volcanic islands with too abrupt coast-line? Reefs only a few sailors know how to avoid? Not needing to maintain ports for ships? Not paying taxes to use those ports?
– Alberto Yagos
8 hours ago
Storms? Changing winds from season to season? Strong currents? Volcanic islands with too abrupt coast-line? Reefs only a few sailors know how to avoid? Not needing to maintain ports for ships? Not paying taxes to use those ports?
– Alberto Yagos
8 hours ago
1
1
@AlbertoYagos - Good points, however - taxation is arbitrary. A state can invoke taxes on anything it wants, including bridges.
– Battle
6 hours ago
@AlbertoYagos - Good points, however - taxation is arbitrary. A state can invoke taxes on anything it wants, including bridges.
– Battle
6 hours ago
Have you think of anything that's stopping them from building a bridge?
– Mr.J
5 hours ago
Have you think of anything that's stopping them from building a bridge?
– Mr.J
5 hours ago
1
1
Why do you want/need bridges in your world? Assuming you don't create a world randomly, you might have an idea why you want them. Please elaborate.
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
Why do you want/need bridges in your world? Assuming you don't create a world randomly, you might have an idea why you want them. Please elaborate.
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago
 |Â
show 3 more comments
4 Answers
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3
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For the same reason why the British filled in the Braye du Valle in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. its a lot easier to defend
Historical Example: the Braye du Valle
The Channel Island of Guernsey was two islands seperated by a small channel, which were connected at low tide, however at high tide they were completely separate (Guernsey has a 10m tidal range) during the 17th and 18th centuries, the French had a nasty habit of landing troops to try and take the channel islands, and when they did so on the larger island they were repelled by the local garrison, however when they landed on the smaller island if done at high tide then the British garrison had to march across a single connecting bridge to reach the invading forces or wait until low tide to cross elsewhere.
in 1803 they had had enough of this and decided to block off both ends of the Braye du Valle and then drain the interior, this began 3 years later, this meant that in the event of the french invading once more they could move troops far more easily.
Your islands
Yes bridges are expensive to build and maintain, however if other nations regularly attack then the ability to move troops without needing to wait is improtant otherwise the invaders may fortify their position and make it a lot harder to take back. and anything your plot requires could cause a delay:
- Tide
- Availability of a ship
- Adverse Weather
- Even just the wind wasn't in the right direction to allow for a decent speed
All of these reasons played a part in real life naval combat at some point. so it makes sense that it would do so in your world to some extent as well.
After that its just justifying the cost and time. but quite often "we need to do it or someone will turn up and kill us" has been a fairly realistic excuse
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
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Basically the same reason Romans went into road building in a big way, efficient communication and movement.
Tonga tried to do this a long time ago. The reason was although you could move an army by canoe (they were big canoes), Land travel is much easier especially for large groups of warriors. Unfortunately for the Tongans it wasn't practical due to the deepness of the sea and distances involved. Nethertheless they did move some house size boulders in their attempt before their empire fell to bits.
Realistically their empire may have endured if they were able to move warriors efficiently and cost effectively. Without it they were always effectively outnumbered on any big island if there was a major insurrection with no way of communicating easily with Tonga let alone getting reinforcements.
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Bridges are weather proof-ish, roads, well made roads, are less likely to experience massive loses of cargoes during hurricanes etc... As civilisation becomes more advanced, professionals more specialised, and processing more industrialised, supply certainty becomes more and more important, you not only have to deliver more materials to workshops and factories you have to deliver them more often and with fewer disruptions. Boats are more vulnerable to the vagaries of storm, wave, and accident than road traffic, and as such they are less and less desirable as a transport mode as civilisation gets more sophisticated. This is especially true when the technology of boat building doesn't advance into steel hulls and powered craft.
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
Well, weather proof is a stretch, especially over long distances with the tech level available. A decent pontoon bridge could be disassembled in storms and reconvened when required though, so you still keep a lot of the benefits.
– Joe Bloggs
3 hours ago
@JoeBloggs The "tech level" is "a wizard did it", the OP specifically states that the bridges are built using magic. The description of the bridges is "titanic" which to me says huge, permanent, probably stone, spans. That's going to be a much more stable transportation net than wooden boats in stormy seas.
– Ash
2 hours ago
Fair point. Missed the magic sentence.
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Because they can: to show off the prosperity of their empire or the vision of a ruler, etc.
Because it is faster and easier to move a large amount of wares over dry land than over sea. You don't have to take into consideration the weather.
How many people know how to navigate a boat over sea, even if it's just from island to island? Granted, people living on an island have a greater motivation to learn but if their work does not involve sea travel then they might not have the means to pay for the upkeep of a boat they rarely use. Also, learning to navigate the local atolls and currents probably takes years of practice.
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
add a comment |Â
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
For the same reason why the British filled in the Braye du Valle in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. its a lot easier to defend
Historical Example: the Braye du Valle
The Channel Island of Guernsey was two islands seperated by a small channel, which were connected at low tide, however at high tide they were completely separate (Guernsey has a 10m tidal range) during the 17th and 18th centuries, the French had a nasty habit of landing troops to try and take the channel islands, and when they did so on the larger island they were repelled by the local garrison, however when they landed on the smaller island if done at high tide then the British garrison had to march across a single connecting bridge to reach the invading forces or wait until low tide to cross elsewhere.
in 1803 they had had enough of this and decided to block off both ends of the Braye du Valle and then drain the interior, this began 3 years later, this meant that in the event of the french invading once more they could move troops far more easily.
Your islands
Yes bridges are expensive to build and maintain, however if other nations regularly attack then the ability to move troops without needing to wait is improtant otherwise the invaders may fortify their position and make it a lot harder to take back. and anything your plot requires could cause a delay:
- Tide
- Availability of a ship
- Adverse Weather
- Even just the wind wasn't in the right direction to allow for a decent speed
All of these reasons played a part in real life naval combat at some point. so it makes sense that it would do so in your world to some extent as well.
After that its just justifying the cost and time. but quite often "we need to do it or someone will turn up and kill us" has been a fairly realistic excuse
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
For the same reason why the British filled in the Braye du Valle in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. its a lot easier to defend
Historical Example: the Braye du Valle
The Channel Island of Guernsey was two islands seperated by a small channel, which were connected at low tide, however at high tide they were completely separate (Guernsey has a 10m tidal range) during the 17th and 18th centuries, the French had a nasty habit of landing troops to try and take the channel islands, and when they did so on the larger island they were repelled by the local garrison, however when they landed on the smaller island if done at high tide then the British garrison had to march across a single connecting bridge to reach the invading forces or wait until low tide to cross elsewhere.
in 1803 they had had enough of this and decided to block off both ends of the Braye du Valle and then drain the interior, this began 3 years later, this meant that in the event of the french invading once more they could move troops far more easily.
Your islands
Yes bridges are expensive to build and maintain, however if other nations regularly attack then the ability to move troops without needing to wait is improtant otherwise the invaders may fortify their position and make it a lot harder to take back. and anything your plot requires could cause a delay:
- Tide
- Availability of a ship
- Adverse Weather
- Even just the wind wasn't in the right direction to allow for a decent speed
All of these reasons played a part in real life naval combat at some point. so it makes sense that it would do so in your world to some extent as well.
After that its just justifying the cost and time. but quite often "we need to do it or someone will turn up and kill us" has been a fairly realistic excuse
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
For the same reason why the British filled in the Braye du Valle in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. its a lot easier to defend
Historical Example: the Braye du Valle
The Channel Island of Guernsey was two islands seperated by a small channel, which were connected at low tide, however at high tide they were completely separate (Guernsey has a 10m tidal range) during the 17th and 18th centuries, the French had a nasty habit of landing troops to try and take the channel islands, and when they did so on the larger island they were repelled by the local garrison, however when they landed on the smaller island if done at high tide then the British garrison had to march across a single connecting bridge to reach the invading forces or wait until low tide to cross elsewhere.
in 1803 they had had enough of this and decided to block off both ends of the Braye du Valle and then drain the interior, this began 3 years later, this meant that in the event of the french invading once more they could move troops far more easily.
Your islands
Yes bridges are expensive to build and maintain, however if other nations regularly attack then the ability to move troops without needing to wait is improtant otherwise the invaders may fortify their position and make it a lot harder to take back. and anything your plot requires could cause a delay:
- Tide
- Availability of a ship
- Adverse Weather
- Even just the wind wasn't in the right direction to allow for a decent speed
All of these reasons played a part in real life naval combat at some point. so it makes sense that it would do so in your world to some extent as well.
After that its just justifying the cost and time. but quite often "we need to do it or someone will turn up and kill us" has been a fairly realistic excuse
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
For the same reason why the British filled in the Braye du Valle in Guernsey in the Channel Islands. its a lot easier to defend
Historical Example: the Braye du Valle
The Channel Island of Guernsey was two islands seperated by a small channel, which were connected at low tide, however at high tide they were completely separate (Guernsey has a 10m tidal range) during the 17th and 18th centuries, the French had a nasty habit of landing troops to try and take the channel islands, and when they did so on the larger island they were repelled by the local garrison, however when they landed on the smaller island if done at high tide then the British garrison had to march across a single connecting bridge to reach the invading forces or wait until low tide to cross elsewhere.
in 1803 they had had enough of this and decided to block off both ends of the Braye du Valle and then drain the interior, this began 3 years later, this meant that in the event of the french invading once more they could move troops far more easily.
Your islands
Yes bridges are expensive to build and maintain, however if other nations regularly attack then the ability to move troops without needing to wait is improtant otherwise the invaders may fortify their position and make it a lot harder to take back. and anything your plot requires could cause a delay:
- Tide
- Availability of a ship
- Adverse Weather
- Even just the wind wasn't in the right direction to allow for a decent speed
All of these reasons played a part in real life naval combat at some point. so it makes sense that it would do so in your world to some extent as well.
After that its just justifying the cost and time. but quite often "we need to do it or someone will turn up and kill us" has been a fairly realistic excuse
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
answered 5 hours ago
Blade Wraith
6,7051138
6,7051138
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Basically the same reason Romans went into road building in a big way, efficient communication and movement.
Tonga tried to do this a long time ago. The reason was although you could move an army by canoe (they were big canoes), Land travel is much easier especially for large groups of warriors. Unfortunately for the Tongans it wasn't practical due to the deepness of the sea and distances involved. Nethertheless they did move some house size boulders in their attempt before their empire fell to bits.
Realistically their empire may have endured if they were able to move warriors efficiently and cost effectively. Without it they were always effectively outnumbered on any big island if there was a major insurrection with no way of communicating easily with Tonga let alone getting reinforcements.
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Basically the same reason Romans went into road building in a big way, efficient communication and movement.
Tonga tried to do this a long time ago. The reason was although you could move an army by canoe (they were big canoes), Land travel is much easier especially for large groups of warriors. Unfortunately for the Tongans it wasn't practical due to the deepness of the sea and distances involved. Nethertheless they did move some house size boulders in their attempt before their empire fell to bits.
Realistically their empire may have endured if they were able to move warriors efficiently and cost effectively. Without it they were always effectively outnumbered on any big island if there was a major insurrection with no way of communicating easily with Tonga let alone getting reinforcements.
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Basically the same reason Romans went into road building in a big way, efficient communication and movement.
Tonga tried to do this a long time ago. The reason was although you could move an army by canoe (they were big canoes), Land travel is much easier especially for large groups of warriors. Unfortunately for the Tongans it wasn't practical due to the deepness of the sea and distances involved. Nethertheless they did move some house size boulders in their attempt before their empire fell to bits.
Realistically their empire may have endured if they were able to move warriors efficiently and cost effectively. Without it they were always effectively outnumbered on any big island if there was a major insurrection with no way of communicating easily with Tonga let alone getting reinforcements.
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
Basically the same reason Romans went into road building in a big way, efficient communication and movement.
Tonga tried to do this a long time ago. The reason was although you could move an army by canoe (they were big canoes), Land travel is much easier especially for large groups of warriors. Unfortunately for the Tongans it wasn't practical due to the deepness of the sea and distances involved. Nethertheless they did move some house size boulders in their attempt before their empire fell to bits.
Realistically their empire may have endured if they were able to move warriors efficiently and cost effectively. Without it they were always effectively outnumbered on any big island if there was a major insurrection with no way of communicating easily with Tonga let alone getting reinforcements.
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
edited 5 hours ago
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
answered 6 hours ago
Kilisi
12.3k12258
12.3k12258
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Bridges are weather proof-ish, roads, well made roads, are less likely to experience massive loses of cargoes during hurricanes etc... As civilisation becomes more advanced, professionals more specialised, and processing more industrialised, supply certainty becomes more and more important, you not only have to deliver more materials to workshops and factories you have to deliver them more often and with fewer disruptions. Boats are more vulnerable to the vagaries of storm, wave, and accident than road traffic, and as such they are less and less desirable as a transport mode as civilisation gets more sophisticated. This is especially true when the technology of boat building doesn't advance into steel hulls and powered craft.
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
Well, weather proof is a stretch, especially over long distances with the tech level available. A decent pontoon bridge could be disassembled in storms and reconvened when required though, so you still keep a lot of the benefits.
– Joe Bloggs
3 hours ago
@JoeBloggs The "tech level" is "a wizard did it", the OP specifically states that the bridges are built using magic. The description of the bridges is "titanic" which to me says huge, permanent, probably stone, spans. That's going to be a much more stable transportation net than wooden boats in stormy seas.
– Ash
2 hours ago
Fair point. Missed the magic sentence.
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Bridges are weather proof-ish, roads, well made roads, are less likely to experience massive loses of cargoes during hurricanes etc... As civilisation becomes more advanced, professionals more specialised, and processing more industrialised, supply certainty becomes more and more important, you not only have to deliver more materials to workshops and factories you have to deliver them more often and with fewer disruptions. Boats are more vulnerable to the vagaries of storm, wave, and accident than road traffic, and as such they are less and less desirable as a transport mode as civilisation gets more sophisticated. This is especially true when the technology of boat building doesn't advance into steel hulls and powered craft.
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
Well, weather proof is a stretch, especially over long distances with the tech level available. A decent pontoon bridge could be disassembled in storms and reconvened when required though, so you still keep a lot of the benefits.
– Joe Bloggs
3 hours ago
@JoeBloggs The "tech level" is "a wizard did it", the OP specifically states that the bridges are built using magic. The description of the bridges is "titanic" which to me says huge, permanent, probably stone, spans. That's going to be a much more stable transportation net than wooden boats in stormy seas.
– Ash
2 hours ago
Fair point. Missed the magic sentence.
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Bridges are weather proof-ish, roads, well made roads, are less likely to experience massive loses of cargoes during hurricanes etc... As civilisation becomes more advanced, professionals more specialised, and processing more industrialised, supply certainty becomes more and more important, you not only have to deliver more materials to workshops and factories you have to deliver them more often and with fewer disruptions. Boats are more vulnerable to the vagaries of storm, wave, and accident than road traffic, and as such they are less and less desirable as a transport mode as civilisation gets more sophisticated. This is especially true when the technology of boat building doesn't advance into steel hulls and powered craft.
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
Bridges are weather proof-ish, roads, well made roads, are less likely to experience massive loses of cargoes during hurricanes etc... As civilisation becomes more advanced, professionals more specialised, and processing more industrialised, supply certainty becomes more and more important, you not only have to deliver more materials to workshops and factories you have to deliver them more often and with fewer disruptions. Boats are more vulnerable to the vagaries of storm, wave, and accident than road traffic, and as such they are less and less desirable as a transport mode as civilisation gets more sophisticated. This is especially true when the technology of boat building doesn't advance into steel hulls and powered craft.
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
answered 3 hours ago
Ash
23.1k462136
23.1k462136
Well, weather proof is a stretch, especially over long distances with the tech level available. A decent pontoon bridge could be disassembled in storms and reconvened when required though, so you still keep a lot of the benefits.
– Joe Bloggs
3 hours ago
@JoeBloggs The "tech level" is "a wizard did it", the OP specifically states that the bridges are built using magic. The description of the bridges is "titanic" which to me says huge, permanent, probably stone, spans. That's going to be a much more stable transportation net than wooden boats in stormy seas.
– Ash
2 hours ago
Fair point. Missed the magic sentence.
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
Well, weather proof is a stretch, especially over long distances with the tech level available. A decent pontoon bridge could be disassembled in storms and reconvened when required though, so you still keep a lot of the benefits.
– Joe Bloggs
3 hours ago
@JoeBloggs The "tech level" is "a wizard did it", the OP specifically states that the bridges are built using magic. The description of the bridges is "titanic" which to me says huge, permanent, probably stone, spans. That's going to be a much more stable transportation net than wooden boats in stormy seas.
– Ash
2 hours ago
Fair point. Missed the magic sentence.
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
Well, weather proof is a stretch, especially over long distances with the tech level available. A decent pontoon bridge could be disassembled in storms and reconvened when required though, so you still keep a lot of the benefits.
– Joe Bloggs
3 hours ago
Well, weather proof is a stretch, especially over long distances with the tech level available. A decent pontoon bridge could be disassembled in storms and reconvened when required though, so you still keep a lot of the benefits.
– Joe Bloggs
3 hours ago
@JoeBloggs The "tech level" is "a wizard did it", the OP specifically states that the bridges are built using magic. The description of the bridges is "titanic" which to me says huge, permanent, probably stone, spans. That's going to be a much more stable transportation net than wooden boats in stormy seas.
– Ash
2 hours ago
@JoeBloggs The "tech level" is "a wizard did it", the OP specifically states that the bridges are built using magic. The description of the bridges is "titanic" which to me says huge, permanent, probably stone, spans. That's going to be a much more stable transportation net than wooden boats in stormy seas.
– Ash
2 hours ago
Fair point. Missed the magic sentence.
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
Fair point. Missed the magic sentence.
– Joe Bloggs
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Because they can: to show off the prosperity of their empire or the vision of a ruler, etc.
Because it is faster and easier to move a large amount of wares over dry land than over sea. You don't have to take into consideration the weather.
How many people know how to navigate a boat over sea, even if it's just from island to island? Granted, people living on an island have a greater motivation to learn but if their work does not involve sea travel then they might not have the means to pay for the upkeep of a boat they rarely use. Also, learning to navigate the local atolls and currents probably takes years of practice.
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
Because they can: to show off the prosperity of their empire or the vision of a ruler, etc.
Because it is faster and easier to move a large amount of wares over dry land than over sea. You don't have to take into consideration the weather.
How many people know how to navigate a boat over sea, even if it's just from island to island? Granted, people living on an island have a greater motivation to learn but if their work does not involve sea travel then they might not have the means to pay for the upkeep of a boat they rarely use. Also, learning to navigate the local atolls and currents probably takes years of practice.
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
add a comment |Â
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
Because they can: to show off the prosperity of their empire or the vision of a ruler, etc.
Because it is faster and easier to move a large amount of wares over dry land than over sea. You don't have to take into consideration the weather.
How many people know how to navigate a boat over sea, even if it's just from island to island? Granted, people living on an island have a greater motivation to learn but if their work does not involve sea travel then they might not have the means to pay for the upkeep of a boat they rarely use. Also, learning to navigate the local atolls and currents probably takes years of practice.
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
Because they can: to show off the prosperity of their empire or the vision of a ruler, etc.
Because it is faster and easier to move a large amount of wares over dry land than over sea. You don't have to take into consideration the weather.
How many people know how to navigate a boat over sea, even if it's just from island to island? Granted, people living on an island have a greater motivation to learn but if their work does not involve sea travel then they might not have the means to pay for the upkeep of a boat they rarely use. Also, learning to navigate the local atolls and currents probably takes years of practice.
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
edited 3 hours ago
Mołot
26.9k1183124
26.9k1183124
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
answered 5 hours ago
Real Subtle
4,343417
4,343417
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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4
why did we build the brooklyn bridge when ferries existed, simple you can move more stuff and do it much faster on a bridge than a boat.
– John
8 hours ago
1
Storms? Changing winds from season to season? Strong currents? Volcanic islands with too abrupt coast-line? Reefs only a few sailors know how to avoid? Not needing to maintain ports for ships? Not paying taxes to use those ports?
– Alberto Yagos
8 hours ago
1
@AlbertoYagos - Good points, however - taxation is arbitrary. A state can invoke taxes on anything it wants, including bridges.
– Battle
6 hours ago
Have you think of anything that's stopping them from building a bridge?
– Mr.J
5 hours ago
1
Why do you want/need bridges in your world? Assuming you don't create a world randomly, you might have an idea why you want them. Please elaborate.
– Raditz_35
5 hours ago