Digital Maps of the Ancient World

Frontiers of the Empire

Embark on a scholarly exploration of the frontiers of the Roman Empire with our carefully curated reading list.

From the iconic Hadrian’s Wall in Britannia to the sprawling limes along the Rhine and Danube rivers, our selection of works delves into the multifaceted nature of Roman borderlands. Discover the strategic significance of frontier fortifications, the complex interactions between Roman forces and indigenous peoples, and the cultural exchanges that occurred along these dynamic boundaries. Explore the challenges of defending and governing vast territorial expanses, the military tactics employed to secure Roman dominance, and the economic, social, and cultural impacts of frontier life. Whether you’re interested in the rugged landscapes of the Germanic forests, the arid expanses of the Sahara Desert, or the strategic chokepoints of the Eastern frontier, our reading list offers a diverse array of perspectives to illuminate the fascinating world of Rome’s frontiers.

General

• Breeze, D.J., The Frontiers of Imperial Rome, Barnsley, 2011.
• Isaac, B., The Limits of Empire. The Roman Army in the East, Oxford, 1992.
• Luttwak, E.N., The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire from the First Century AD to the Third, Baltimore, 1976.
• Whittaker, C.R., Frontiers of the Roman Empire. A Social and Economic Study, Baltimore, 1994.

Further Reading

• Bidwell, P.T., Excavations at South Shields Roman Fort, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1993.
• Bishop, M.C., ‘Praesidium: social, military, and logistical aspects of the Roman army’s provincial distribution during the early principate’, in Goldsworthy & Haynes 1999, 113-18.
• Braund, D., Rome and the Friendly King: the Character of Client Kingship, London, 1984.
• Breeze, D., The Northern Frontier of Roman Britain, London, 1982.
• Breeze, D.J. & Dobson, B., Hadrian’s Wall, London, 1976.
• Campbell, D.B., The Rise of Imperial Rome, AD 14-193, Oxford, 2013.
• Creighton, J.D. and Wilson, R.J.A. (ed.), Roman Germany. Studies in Cultural Interaction, JRA Supplementary Series 32, Portsmouth RI, 1999.
• Elton, H., Frontiers of the Roman Empire, London, 1996.
• Fields, N., Hadrian’s Wall: AD 122-410, Oxford, 2003.
• Fields, N., Rome’s Northern Frontier: AD 70-235, Oxford, 2005.
• Fields, N., Rome’s Saxon Shore: Coastal Defences of Roman Britain, AD 250-500, Oxford, 2006.
• Frere, S.S. & St Joseph, J.K., Roman Britain From the Air, Cambridge, 1983.
• Hodgson, N., ‘The east as part of the wider Roman imperial frontier policy’, in D.H. French & C.S. Lightfoot (ed.), The Eastern Frontier of the Roman Empire, BAR Int. Ser.553, Oxford, 1989, 177-89.
• Isaac, B., ‘The meaning of the terms limes and limitanei’, JRS 78, 1988, 125-47.
• Jones, R.H., Roman Camps in Scotland, Edinburgh, 2011.
• Jones, R.H., Roman Camps in Britain, Stroud, 2012.
• Mattern, S.P., Rome and the Enemy. Imperial Strategy in the Principate, Berkeley, 1999.
• Maxfield, V.A. & Dobson, M.J. (ed.), Roman Frontier Studies 1989. Proceedings of the XVth International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies, Exeter, 1991.
• Rushworth, A. (ed.), Housesteads Roman Fort. The Grandest Station, Swindon, 2009.
• Schlüter, W., ‘The battle of the Teutoburg Forest: archaeological research near Kalkreise near Osnabrück’, in Creighton & Wilson 1999, 125-60.
• Wacher, J. (ed.), The Roman World, London, 1987, vol.I, part 4.