Encircling the Empire: How Rome’s frontier network was chronicled

The frontiers of Rome are staggering in their scope. Often shown as simply a line on a map, sketching out the edge of the Empire, this formidable network once stretched for more than 13,000km through numerous modern countries spread across three continents. Although scholars continue to dispute how exactly these frontiers functioned, it seems clear enough that they reflect a massive investment in tightening security. This investment could, though, take many different forms. Although the Roman army lay at the heart of efforts to control the Empire’s edges, military solutions varied from province to province, and also over time. In some places, significant natural features like rivers, mount