The Roman "centurie" gave the land the look of a properly set out urban plan. Firstly the land required deforestation and the reclaiming of swampy areas so that the land would hitherto be used for building. This system called "centurie" was basically the subdivision of a large tract of land into 200 equal lots (approx. 60 hectares each). These subdivisions were arranged along orthogonal axes: the "centurie" were thus plotted out and allotted to citizens by the Roman State. This system afforded a means of control and an efficient form of State organization in the handling of private property. All the cities which were colonised by Rome for example Lucca, Luni, Aosta used this method of classification which dates back to the very foundation of Rome itself.