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Mile (Roman)

The Roman mile (mille passuum, meaning "a thousand paces") was a unit of distance used in ancient Rome. It measured approximately 1,000 double steps, or 5,000 Roman feet. One Roman foot (pes) was about 11.65 inches (29.6 cm), making the Roman mile roughly 4,850 feet or about 1,480 meters.

The Roman mile was used for measuring distances along roads across the Roman Empire, often marked by milestones (miliaria) placed at intervals of one mile. This system allowed for standardized road construction and efficient communication and transportation across vast territories.

Although shorter than the modern statute mile (1,609.344 meters), the Roman mile laid the foundation for the concept of mile-based distance measurement. The word "mile" itself originates from the Latin "mille," reflecting this Roman origin. Over time, the length of a mile evolved, eventually leading to the modern definitions used today.

A statute mile is a unit of length commonly used in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is officially defined as 5,280 feet or 1,609.344 meters. The term "statute mile" distinguishes it from other types of miles, such as the nautical mile. The origin of the statute mile dates back to an Act of Parliament in England in 1593, which standardized the length of the mile. It is primarily used for measuring distances on land, such as in road signs, speed limits, and maps. While many countries have adopted the metric system, the statute mile remains in everyday use in a few countries. In contrast to the nautical mile, which is used for air and sea navigation, the statute mile is mainly applied in land-based contexts. It is also used to calculate speed in miles per hour (mph), especially for vehicles and road travel.