Limits of Empire

Rome'S Borders

Simon Forty, Jonathan Forty

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Hardback

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English

Casemate
01 February 2022

History; Ancient history: to c 500 CE; Medieval history; Military history

A study of the Roman borders, their role as defenses and control points and their impact on the Roman empire as a whole.

The borders of the Roman Empire were frontiers that were often wild and dangerous. The expansion of the empire after the Punic Wars saw the Roman Republic become the dominant force in the Mediterranean as it first took Carthaginian territories in Gaul, Spain and north Africa and then moved into Greece with purpose, subjugating the area and creating two provinces, Achaea and Macedonia. The growth of the territories under Roman control continued through the rise of Julius Caesar - who conquered the rest of Gaul - and the establishment of the empire: each of the emperors could point to territories annexed and lands won.

By AD 117 and the accession of Hadrian, the empire had reached its peak. It held sway from Britain to Morocco, from Spain to the Black Sea. And its wealth was coveted by those outside its borders. Just as today those from poorer countries try to make their way into Europe or North America, so those outside the empire wanted to make their way into the Promised Land for trade, for improvement of their lives or for plunder. Thus the Roman borders became a mix - just as our borders are today - of defensive bulwark against enemies, but also control areas where import and export taxes were levied, and entrance was controlled. Some of these borders were hard: the early equivalents of the Inner German Border or Trump's Wall - Hadrian's Wall and the line between the Rhine and Danube. Others, such as these two great rivers, were natural borders that the Romans policed with their navy.

This book examines these frontiers of the empire, looking at the way they were constructed and manned and how that changed over the years. It looks at the physical barriers - from the walls in Britain to the Fossatum Africae in the desert. It looks at the traders and the prices that were paid for the traffic of goods. It looks at the way that civil settlements - vici - grew up around the forts and fortlets and what life was like for soldiers, sailors and civilians.

AUTHOR: Simon Forty has worked in military and history publishing as editor and author for over 40 years. Following in his father's footsteps he concentrates on highly illustrated books that combine historic material with modern photography, much of it by long-time collaborator Leo Marriott.

350 photographs

By: Simon Forty, Jonathan Forty
Imprint: Casemate
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 254mm, Width: 203mm,
ISBN: 9781636240763
ISBN 10: 1636240763
Pages: 200
Publication Date: 01 February 2022
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Unspecified

Introduction Timeline The Sources 1. Border Expansion from the Punic Wars to Trajan 2. Border Troops 3. Roman Engineering 4. The Borders 5. Life on the Border Credits and Acknowledgments Select Bibliography Abbreviations Index

Simon Forty has worked in military and history publishing as editor and author for over 40 years. Following in his father's footsteps he concentrates on highly illustrated books that combine historic material with modern photography, much of it by long-time collaborator Leo Marriott.

Reviews for Limits of Empire: Rome'S Borders

""Superbly illustrated in full color throughout... an impressively informative, exceptionally well written, deftly organized and presented study...""-- ""Midwest Book Review"" ""This book is a nice addition to the literature aimed at a general readership. The book is lavishly crafted, containing numerous high-quality pictures and maps which enable the reader to engage with the analysis of evidence more closely. [A]n enjoyable read, an ideal introduction to the Limesforschung.""-- ""Bryn Mawr Classical Review""