09-24-2018, 08:59 PM
Marcus Aurelius was establishing 2 new provinces, not a buffer zone. Commodus preferred the colosseum to the hard work in the new provinces.
And, Marcus Aurelius annexed several territories in the east, for example Dura Europos, that had been left under Hadrianus. Apart the extension of the influence sphere in the Osroene region.
Under Severus, the border arrived stably to Nisibis, and Caracalla made other conquests, that were confirmed and kept. Instead of trying to conquest the whole Parthia, after Trajan Rome adopted a better approach and started a progressive advance. It was less spectacular, but more sustainable, and, mainly, more in line with what had been done previously to Trajan. Also, there was a clear expansion in the south.
What we can say is that Trajan was the anomaly in the first 2 centuries of the Roman Empire. And in fact he left behind the Eastern provinces, creating client kingdom. The empire at the death of Severus was stably in Nisibis. At the death of Trajan there was a client kingdom that would have endured neither one year.
Considering all these aspects, and considering that the economy kept growing, I am confident that the first real division starts with the military anarchy. The maps clearly show that the expansion was not stopped, so they are absolutely relevant.
For the Votadini, it is mainly a reconstruction. From Ptolemy we know the position of this people, and the continued occupation of found oppidum Traprain Law, together with the discovery of Roman coins, suggests the fact that its inhabitants were allowed to remain there, being some form of treaty between the Votadini and the Roman military administration.
And, Marcus Aurelius annexed several territories in the east, for example Dura Europos, that had been left under Hadrianus. Apart the extension of the influence sphere in the Osroene region.
Under Severus, the border arrived stably to Nisibis, and Caracalla made other conquests, that were confirmed and kept. Instead of trying to conquest the whole Parthia, after Trajan Rome adopted a better approach and started a progressive advance. It was less spectacular, but more sustainable, and, mainly, more in line with what had been done previously to Trajan. Also, there was a clear expansion in the south.
What we can say is that Trajan was the anomaly in the first 2 centuries of the Roman Empire. And in fact he left behind the Eastern provinces, creating client kingdom. The empire at the death of Severus was stably in Nisibis. At the death of Trajan there was a client kingdom that would have endured neither one year.
Considering all these aspects, and considering that the economy kept growing, I am confident that the first real division starts with the military anarchy. The maps clearly show that the expansion was not stopped, so they are absolutely relevant.
For the Votadini, it is mainly a reconstruction. From Ptolemy we know the position of this people, and the continued occupation of found oppidum Traprain Law, together with the discovery of Roman coins, suggests the fact that its inhabitants were allowed to remain there, being some form of treaty between the Votadini and the Roman military administration.
