03-03-2008, 05:24 AM
Robert, Ian,
About burning farms : I accept your answers. So, would you go so far as to conclude that the effects of burning some farms would be negligible on the local economy ?
"Finding a province which was at peace and enjoying quiet, the whole land beautiful and flowering on all sides, they set to work on it with their wicked forces, laying waste by devastation and bringing everything to ruin with fire and murders. They did not even spare the fruit-bearing orchards, in case people who had hidden in the caves of the mountains...would be able to eat the foods produced by them after they had passed. So it was that no place remained safe from being contaminated by them, as they raged with great cruelty, unchanging and relentless." This is about the march of the Vandals through Africa.
Incidently, Peter Heather does not believe the Vandals came to Africa by the invitation of Boniface. He believes this is just supposition on the part of the 6th century historian, Procopius.
In the context of the 5th century, this would mean that their kings were simply jockeying for the position of magister militum and that was the goal of the civil wars of the time ? Of course, they knew they could not aspire to become Emperor but they wanted the next best thing - i.e. "the power behind the throne" ?
Indeed, even after the outer African territories were ceded to the Vandals, the Romans didn't send many reinforcements to Carthage due to the distractions in Gaul. They merely hoped that the Vandals would honor the treaty.
~Theo
About burning farms : I accept your answers. So, would you go so far as to conclude that the effects of burning some farms would be negligible on the local economy ?
Quote:So the Vandals attacked the towns and did not destroy the crops.The sources would have us believe otherwise but, as Ian said, they're not that helpful in describing the events - they are more interested in merely condemning and perhaps exaggerating the actions of the Vandals.
"Finding a province which was at peace and enjoying quiet, the whole land beautiful and flowering on all sides, they set to work on it with their wicked forces, laying waste by devastation and bringing everything to ruin with fire and murders. They did not even spare the fruit-bearing orchards, in case people who had hidden in the caves of the mountains...would be able to eat the foods produced by them after they had passed. So it was that no place remained safe from being contaminated by them, as they raged with great cruelty, unchanging and relentless." This is about the march of the Vandals through Africa.
Incidently, Peter Heather does not believe the Vandals came to Africa by the invitation of Boniface. He believes this is just supposition on the part of the 6th century historian, Procopius.
Quote:But my point is that you evidently cannot say that "federates were bent on become independent states". Their behavious is often directly comparable to warring Roman ussurpers, all within a Roman politicaal acceptable frame
In the context of the 5th century, this would mean that their kings were simply jockeying for the position of magister militum and that was the goal of the civil wars of the time ? Of course, they knew they could not aspire to become Emperor but they wanted the next best thing - i.e. "the power behind the throne" ?
Quote: to its demise: trading Spain and Africa for Gaul and Italy.
Indeed, even after the outer African territories were ceded to the Vandals, the Romans didn't send many reinforcements to Carthage due to the distractions in Gaul. They merely hoped that the Vandals would honor the treaty.
~Theo
Jaime
