In the classical period, the Alconétar Bridge was part of the Roman road "Iter ab Emerita Caesaraugustam", that was later called "Via de la Plata". This important inner Iberian connection led from the provincial capital Mérida in the south, through the river valleys of Alagón, Tiétar and Tagus to the north, then on to the western part of Meseta Central, passing the major town of Salamanca. Its terminal point was Astorga in north-western Spain. The Via de la Plata was one of the four main routes which were established by Augustus (30 BC–14 AD) and his successors for military control of the peninsula and for facilitating the exploitation of the rich Spanish silver and gold mines.