Neighboring lands around ancient Rome

Ancient Rome, a powerful empire stretching from the Atlantic to the Middle East, was surrounded by numerous lands with which it established complex and diverse relationships – from commercial to military. Each of these lands had a different culture, religion, and economy, which made them interesting partners, rivals, or threats to Rome.

Below are some sample lands.

Gaul

In the northwest of the Empire lay Gaul, a land inhabited by Celtic tribes. Initially, she was one of the main enemies of the Roman Republic, famous for its warrior power. Conflicts with Gaul culminated during the conquests of Julius Caesar (58-50 BC), who successfully conquered the region, transforming it into a Roman province.

Romans used Gaul as an important strategic and economic point, controlling access to the Atlantic and developing agriculture. Gaul became one of the main suppliers of grain to Rome. Over time, it was fully integrated into the empire, and the Gallic aristocracy began to play important roles in the Roman administration.

Germania

Beyond the Rhine, in the northeast, there was Germania – lands inhabited by Germanic tribes such as the Chatti, Suebi, Cherusci and Goths. The Romans tried to conquer these territories but encountered resistance, especially during the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 CE, when the Cherusci leader Arminius managed to destroy three Roman legions.

Although Germania was never completely conquered, the Romans conducted intensive diplomatic and trade activities there, trying to maintain their influence through alliances with local tribes. The border on the Rhine became one of the key elements of the Empire’s defense policy, and the Roman limes – a system of fortifications – were intended to protect Rome against attacks from these areas.

Party

In the east, across the Euphrates, stretched the powerful Parthian Kingdom, which was Rome’s main rival in Asia. The Parthians, ruled by the Arsacid dynasty, controlled vast areas, from present-day Iran to Mesopotamia. Their army, composed of excellent cavalrymen, was a difficult opponent for the Roman legions.

Rome and Parthia fought numerous wars for control of Armenia and other key regions of the Middle East. Although the Romans repeatedly tried to take the Parthian (later Persian) capital, Ctesiphon, they never managed to maintain lasting power there. The conflicts with the Parthians were long-lasting and devastating, but at the same time they led to the revival of trade routes such as the Silk Road.

Egypt

In the southeast of the Roman Empire, there was Egypt, which after its annexation in 30 BCE was incorporated into the Empire as a province. Egypt was of great importance to Rome, mainly due to the fertile areas around the Nile, which provided grain for the entire empire.

Romans adopted the rich cultural and religious traditions of Egypt, which permeated their own civilization. The cult of Isis became popular throughout the Empire, and monumental structures such as pyramids and temples attracted Roman tourists. Alexandria, the capital of Egypt, was one of the most important intellectual and commercial centres of the ancient world, attracting philosophers, scholars and merchants from all corners of the empire.

Dacia

To the north of the lower Danube lay Dacia, a land inhabited by the Dacians, a people of Thracian origin. For many years, Dacia posed a threat to the Roman Danubian provinces, until Emperor Trajan undertook two great campaigns (at the beginning of the 2nd century CE), which resulted in the full conquest of this region.

The victory over the Dacians brought Rome enormous loot, especially gold from Dacian mines, which contributed to the economic development of the empire. Trajan, commemorating his successes, ordered the construction of Trajan’s Column, one of the most famous Roman buildings, which depicts scenes from Dacian campaigns.

Mauritania

To the southwest, across the Mediterranean Sea, lay the lands of northern Africa, such as Mauritania. Initially ruled by local kings, in 42 CE they became the Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana. Although these regions were less populated than the eastern parts of the empire, they were of great economic importance, providing Rome with olive oil, grain, and wild animals for arena fighting.

Mauritania was also a strategic point in Rome’s policy, controlling access to the Atlantic and defending the southern borders of the empire against Berber attacks.

Barbarians

The term barbarian is derived from the Latin word barbarus (“foreigner”). In Roman times, the term was used to describe anyone who was not Roman or Greek. The Romans defined the representatives of all peoples who did not belong to the Greek-Roman civilization, which were to be characterized by wildness and lack of culture.

Barbarians for the Romans were, among others:

• Antes – a tribal union of the Eastern Slavs, which largely also gave rise to the Southern Slavs;
• Celts – peoples of Indo-European origin, who at the end of the Bronze Age wandered from the Volga steppes to settle over the upper course of the Rhine, Danube and Menu in the second millennium BCE, hence spread throughout Europe. In the X-VI century BCE they conquered the British Isles, in the VI century BCE the Iberian Peninsula, and some of them today’s France;
• Germanic – a faction of Indo-Europeans living in northern and central-northern Europe, north of the Celtic peoples, using Germanic languages;
• Huns – a nomadic people who invaded Europe around 370 and caused a great migration of peoples, contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire;
• Parthians – a country in ancient Iran, existing from around 238 BCE to 226 CE;
• Persians – an ancient people of Iranian origin who took over the rule of Parthia and established the Sassanid state;
• Sarmatians – the name of Iranian nomadic-shepherd peoples. Sarmatians were related to the Scythians, Medes, Parties and Persians;
• Scythians – Iranian nomadic peoples originating from the areas between Altai and Lower Volga, i.e. from the area of ​​Andronian culture, inhabiting the northern Black Sea region from the end of the eighth century or the seventh century BCE. They were related to Sakas and Sarmatians;
• Goths – one of the largest and most important East Germanic tribes, speaking the Gothic language;
• Vandals – a group of East Germanic tribes, inhabiting Central Europe before the Great Migration of People (they were divided into Silingów and Hasdingów, some researchers also include Viktofal, Lakringii and Harii tribes as vandals);
• Franks – collective name describing the West German federation of tribes, at their origins, source, i.e. in the third century CE, inhabiting the areas north and east of the Lower Rhine.