Thriving Civilizations require communications, foods, and raw materials. To provide these, Civilizations require an established Infrastructure. While this Infrastructure has sometimes been supplied by private funds, in the majority of societies, the network of roads, bridges, communication lines, and sewage systems have been created by the state through the creation of public works. The ancient Egyptians created an elaborate system of dykes, bridges, and harbors to make theirs one of the richest civilizations of their time. Similarly, the Romans turned public works into the heart of an empire. Roman roads supported the largest empire ever known, rushing imperial foot soldiers from one crisis to another.