The　penetration　grade　system　is　still　widely　adopted　for　selecting　asphalt　binder　with　desired　paving　performance.　However,　the　initial　material　compositions　of　asphalt　binder　with　the　same　penetration　level　are　still　different,　and　vary　with　the　crude　oil　source　and　essentially　result　in　different　rheological　performance.　This　study　aimed　to　assess　the　linear　viscoelastic　(LVE)　properties,　and　high-　and　intermediate-temperature　and　microscale　characteristics　of　seven　unmodified　asphalt　binders　from　different　sources　and　countries　with　the　same　penetration　level　of　70.　The　LVE　parameters　were　firstly　evaluated　followed　by　comparisons　to　various　damage-based　indexes.　The　microstructure　of　asphalt　binders　was　further　investigated　followed　by　correlations　between　morphology　and　performance　parameters.　Experimental　results　indicate　the　|G*|/sin　delta　is　well　related　to　the　MSCR-based　non-recoverable　creep　compliance;　furthermore,　the　R　and　|G*|center　dot　sin　delta　can　generally　represent　the　LAS-based　failure　strain　and　fatigue　life,　respectively.　The　viscoelastic　nature　of　tested　binders　was　clearly　distinguished　and　related　to　rheological　performance　by　atomic　force　microscopy　(AFM).　The　roughness　parameters　and　the　phases＇　content　derived　from　AFM　images　showed　significant　correlations　with　LVE　characteristics　and　fatigue　resistance　nature,　respectively.　This　research　provides　theoretical　foundations　for　further　investigating　the　rheological　performance　and　microstructure　characteristics,　and　their　correlations　with　asphalt　binders.