Immigration and Empire

Lucius Ampelius’ potted history of the conquests of the Roman people, penned sometime between the second and fourth century ad, neatly encapsulates the problems historians have in dealing with the Roman Empire in our region.2 Some peoples which have appeared regularly in the last part of this book are absent: he lists no Thracians, no Celts, no Bastarnae, no Getae. The Moesi and Triballi also fail to merit mention. Furthermore, some names which do appear seem unwarranted: Trajan’s triumphs extended no more to the Scythians and Sarmatians than to the Indians. Ampelius, of course, was hardly the best authority: his little potpourri of knowledge was designed as an educational refresher—a handy reference or a crib sheet.

Ancient history · Archaeology · Empire · Genealogy · Immigration · Potpourri · Roman Empire · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classics · History