The army, robbers and foul miscreants.

[Praefectusclassis]

Hey all,
The army had a strong vested interest in keeping its direct zone of operations and hinterland clear of robbers, plunderers and other types of miscreants. After all, you wouldn't want your supplies to disappear somewhere they don't belong?
But what about the interior of the empire? Most provincial governors had very limited numbers of troops to guard them and do all kinds of minor tasks. But were there enough troops to keep the roads and waterways safe? In fact, what is the evidence that the Roman empire actually cared about such things (in contrast to mounting an expedition if some influential equestrian or senator had something robbed).

[Caballo]

Jasper,

This is an issue that I think has been under-researched-essentially applying modern economic theory to classical times.

One of the major benefits of the Roman Empire (IMHO) was its establishment of a free trade zone where separate areas/ regions could concentrate of where they could produce goods that were better/ cheaper and so gain a comparitive trade advantage through economies of scale, local skills, and natural resources. Samian ware and the British birrus may be examples here.

This specialisation meant that the empire as a whole benefited from greater economic growth than they would as stand-alone areas.

However, the introduction of a fixed limes and a mobile field army radically undermined the economic benefits through its impact on trade security, making it more difficult and riskier to trade. In the longer term, this would drive areas back towards being more self sufficient and less efficient. This meant lower economic growth, less taxes, and ultimately less economic rationale to underpin the existence of major trading cities like Londinium.

Not sure where this theory would fit- archaeo-economics? The impact of military strategy on economics? I'd be very interested in whether other peple think this makes sense?

Cheers

Caballo

[Carlton Bach]

Quite a long time ago, when I confidently assumed I'd be doing a PhD on a related subject, I started looking into such questions and found that there is good evidence they did. Roman provincial government maintained indigenous systems of - for want of a better word - law enforcement in many areas. We know reasonably well about the patrolling liturgies in Egypt and somewhat less about the diogmitai of Asia Minor. In Egypt (and with the perpetual question - only in Egypt?) we also have military officers assigned certain regions. They are not law enforcement per se, but surviving documents show that locals came to them seeking redress and help when they had become victims of crime. THere is also some evidence that suggests that stationarii and soldiers detacvhed to duties at river crossings, road crossings or customs posts were expected to secure their areas. Soldiers also seem to have been involved with both enforcing judgements and apprehending suspects for magistrates of the roman people. The Roman world probably had no conception of our 'law enforcement', but there were concerted efforts to keep the streets safe and the night quiet.

The greatest problem we hae when we look at what little evidence we have from the provinces is that we don't understand their terminology. 'robber' (latro, lestes) can be interpreted to mean a political rebel, a common criminal, a desperately poor outcast, or a man living by a warrior code obsolete in other parts of the world. It isa hard to say whether we are seeing an insurgency, brigandage, or tribal warfare in any given scenario. Neither am I sure the Romans would have understood the distinction. I can't find it right nowe, but I had an essay on my hand a while ago that analysed the robbers mentioned in Rabbinic texts. Very interesting.

[Tarbicus]

This have any relevant info?

[url:1qaca7bv]http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?p=59648#59648[/url]

[Praefectusclassis]

Hi Carlton,
I'd be happy to accept Egypt as an example for the entire empire, at least, in many cases. But Egypt had its own troops, both legionary and auxiliary. Asia Minor is a more interesting case. Do you have any literature handy for the dogmitai? It would be interesting in the first place if it appears that this is actually a separate organisation from the army doing these things in, for example, Aquitania or even Italy itself.

[Publius Nonius Severus]

This have any relevant info?

[url:1z0xj1eu]http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewtopic.php?p=59648#59648[/url]

The paper that is linked to in that post is quite good, I'm about halfway though...a very good read...a laudis for you. The URL is altered though, this should work:

[url:1z0xj1eu]http://www.philipharland.com/travel/TravelBlumellBandits.pdf[/url]

[Praefectusclassis]

Thanks!

[Publius Nonius Severus]

I finished reading the paper that Tarbicus found. Very insightful into this topic. If you want to get right to the heart of it as relevant to this topic, skip right to: V. GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AGAINST BANDITS

Within it the author cites multiple sources outlining actions undertaken at all leves to combat bandrity. Here are a couple of the more notable sources the author cites:

Suetonius:

Life of Augustus, 32

"Therefore to put a stop to brigandage, he (Augustus) stationed guards of soldiers wherever it seemed advisable, inspected the workhouses, and disbanded all guilds, except such as were of long standing and formed for legitimate purposes."

The Life of Tiberius, 37

"He (Tiberius) gave special attention to securing safety from prowling brigands and lawless outbreaks. He stationed garrisons of soldiers nearer together than before throughout Italy..."

Cassius Dio, Roman History , LIV, 12

"Such was the character of this man; but others both strove for triumphs and celebrated them, not only for no exploits comparable to this, but merely for arresting robbers or for restoring harmony to cities that were torn by factious strife."


...and lots more. I love works like this that quote so many ancient sources...I'll be busy tonight!

[Dan Diffendale]

From Princeton/Stanford Working Papers in Classics

http://www.princeton.edu/~pswpc/pdfs/shaw/020603.pdf

Bad Boys: Circumcellions and Fictive Violence
Brent D. Shaw, Princeton University
Abstract - The circumcellions were roving bands of violent men and women found in late Roman Africa. The problem is that far more of them have been produced by literary fictions, ancient and modern, than once existed. The fictions have their own intriguing history, but they are otherwise useless for those who are interested in the banality of what actually happened.

[Robert Vermaat]

Thanks!