[Nepeta]

I htink of armies in chariots, not regular commercial traffic. Riding horseback would be preferable,

Stirrups did not appear until after the fall of the western empire. Riding without them is doable, but getting on the beast is tougher, as is staying there. Chariots are faster than a ridden horse, and you do have something to hang onto.

[GeronL]

I bet there was plenty of commercial traffic unless the armies needed to march