Period accurate population numbers, density and roads/trade networks

[NeonKnight]

OK...I've been gone a LONG time from the foum, but here is some info I do know.

First and Foremost, believe it or not, but of all the resources (wood, timber, water, metal etc) the one no-one thinks of, but is by far the single most important for settlement location is.....SALT. Good Ol Sodium Chloride:

https://seasalt.com/history-of-salt


As to roadways...

**EDIT*** Found my old Post:
https://www.cartographersguild.com/s...l=1#post102116
In a nut shell, think of it this way. ALL animal life (and that will include humans, and fantasy creatures as well) are inherently lazy. And what I mean by this is, 'we' want to expend as little energy as possible. So we will travel in straight lines, choose to go around a hill rather than over it, etc, etc. so there's that. Further, it takes a lot of energy to make a road in and of itself. so why do that when the animals that cam before have already done a lot of that work by making their own trails already. Early settlers often used Game trails as their early roads as they already led to points of importance (fresh water, food, etc), and so only a little work was required to clear these trails to make roads

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_road_transport

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...390-story.html

EDIT #2 - More Animal Trail Info

https://www.deersolution.com/blog/creatures-of-habit