The term Roman mile, or simply mile when the reference to Ancient Roman standards is obvious, is often used to translate the Latin mille passuum. However, it is not at all clear that one can consider this to be an actual Roman unit of length or distance. The Latin phrase simply means “1000 paces,” so that a distance given as “septem milia passuum,” though usually translated as “seven miles,” might with more accuracy be translated as “seven thousand paces.” Still, the Roman mile is so frequently cited as a unit that a page in this Wiki is devoted to it as though it were. And as well, many other civilizations have adopted a “mile” as a unit based upon the Roman mile, so that it needs to be considered if only for historical reasons.