Choice Of Frontier Lines Essay, Research Paper
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Unlikely frontiers by
choice, no decision to halt.? Governor
who wanted to earn respect by expanding his province ?frontiers congealed
around the orders of the empire: they arose by default? ?
Disapproval by writers
of unprofitable expansion ? Britain not really worth it ? implication not
resist profitable expansion, Claudius desires honour of taking Britain.? No difficult in asserting little economic r
financial reason ?
Aims of war adjusted
according to wars ? balance between defence and conquest. ?
Existing boundary in
East never satisfactory not even Nero ? OK Britain and Germany attempts to
expand, efforts to subdue Persians in Mesopotamia more frequent and persisted
after warfare in other areas became mainly defensive.? Even in these areas not impossible to decide that they might gain
the initiative and expand empire rather than stay and repel raids ? case reign
Justinian. ?
?Impossible to say quest for defensible
borders ? many wars of expansion, some so called defensive wars can be seen as
war
power and dignity. ?
Again Historians
ignore statements at the time ? fair to attribute Roman decision makers with
motives and calculations.? Nothing wrong
contemporaries of going for glory and honour ? even Britain and Armenia no
practical good. ?
According to Ammianus
Julian went to war with Persians for 3 reasons: 1.
Punish for previous
war 2.
Tired of idleness ?
Certain cements from
Emperors explain aims of wars ? pretty inexplicit. ?
Contemporary sources
do not give Emperors the benefit of the door ? ambitious and vein ?
Modern thoughts that
duty emperor to protect his citizens ? but as we have seen Roman Mesopotamia
self-defence ? yes if assimilated long enough ? but Tacitus talks of rebels
?not yet broken by servitude?.?
Protection against all forms of attack not a guaranteed right ? other
priorities integrity of army, sovereignty of empire, safety of certain areas
especially in Italy.? Protection against
foreign aggression less important than sometimes thought.