The Roman eastern frontier stretched from the north-east shore of the Black Sea to the Red Sea. It faced Rome’s formidable foe, the kingdom of Parthia, and its successor, Sasanian Persia. Rome’s bulwark in antiquity was the area known as Syria or the Levant, roughly modern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Is...

The Roman eastern frontier stretched from the north-east shore of the Black Sea to the Red Sea. It faced Rome’s formidable foe, the kingdom of Parthia, and its successor, Sasanian Persia. Rome’s bulwark in antiquity was the area known as Syria or the Levant, roughly modern Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Palestine. To the south lay the Nabataean kingdom, annexed by Rome in 106 and formed into the province of Arabia.

To the north, the Cappadocian frontier was laid out in one of the most inaccessible and remote parts of Eurasia facing extremes of climate and topography, amid a patchwork of client kingdoms. This hidden and fascinating frontier in Turkey, whose bases mostly lie under reservoirs, is the major omission from this volume and it is hoped that a more in-depth account might appear in due course. The Caucasian forts along the edge of the Black Sea are, however, part of this volume; this is perhaps Rome’s least known frontier archaeologically but the subject of a unique account by Arrian when governor of Cappadocia.

Contents

THE FRONTIERS OF THE ROMAN EMPIREForeword by Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan

Common cultural heritage of the Roman Empire

The Roman Empire

Frontiers and trade

The "Frontiers of the Roman Empire" World Heritage Site

The definition of a World Heritage Site

The task ahead

History and extent of frontiers

Rome´s foreign policy

The location of frontiers

The army and frontiers

The purpose of frontiers

Soldiers and civilians

Military administration

Research on Roman frontiers

Inscriptions and documents

Survey and excavation

Aerial survey

Protection and presentation of frontiers

Future perspectives**THE EASTERN FRONTIERS

The Desert Frontier in Syria and Arabia**Introduction

Location and natural conditionsThe Roman Frontier in SyriaThe history of the frontier and the frontier road

Locals in Roman service

Change and continuity

The Roman forts in Syria: Cultural heritage in dangerDura-Europos

The Desert Frontier in ArabiaHistorical background and frontier development

Outstanding Universal Values of the desert frontier** The Caucasian frontier**