Asphalt

As cars replaced horses, the demand for smooth, durable roads skyrocketed.

The story of asphalt is one of transformation—from a rare natural resource found in ancient pits to the literal foundation of modern global travel. The Ancient Origins asphalt

: In 1870, Belgian chemist Edmund J. DeSmedt laid the first true asphalt pavement in the U.S. in Newark, New Jersey. The Modern Era As cars replaced horses, the demand for smooth,

: The Babylonians used it as a mortar for brick walls and as a sealant for their famed Hanging Gardens . As cars replaced horses