Origin of the limes

[Jona Lendering]

Is it perhaps a case of holding back in one area in order to concentrate on another? This, after all, was Augustus' technique -- keep the Parthians happy in order to concentrate on expansion in the west.

The difference is that this time, a line of watchtowers was added. The one at Utrecht is not there to control a road or another strategic location, but a "classical" limes watchtower, to send signals from one castellum to the next. Or, to be more precise: given the location, I am unable to see another reason.

I have no idea what will be my conclusion, nevertheless. But I tend to think that at least along the Rhine and Upper Danube, a more defensive approach was accepted during the reign of Claudius, and Vespasian added the Ager Decumates, as an improvement of this system.