Information, frontiers and barbarians : the role of strategic intelligence in the relations of the late Roman Empire with Persia and northern peoples
Strategic intelligence - that is, information about the activities and affairs of potential enemies relevant to a state's strategic concerns - is an important factor in the foreign relations of any state. This thesis investigates the role of strategic intelligence throughout Roman relations with Sasanian Persia (early 3rd to early 7th century A.D.) and in the empire's relations with northern peoples beyond the Danube, Rhine, and Hadrian's Wall while these remained imperial frontiers during the same period. Two broad questions are addressed. The first concerns the extent to which strategic intelligence moved between the empire and these neighbouring peoples, and its consequent role in their relations. The second concerns the means by which this information moved. Chapters 1 and 4 consider the first question for relations with Persia and with northern peoples respectively. The first chapter argues that strategic intelligence moved between the Roman and Persian empires with a high degree of regularity: neither could mount a major invasion without the other having some foreknowledge, and both frequently undertook aggressive action so as to exploit knowledge of the other's disadvantages. It is therefore argued
Lee, A. D.
Roman relations with Persia
Information, frontiers and barbarians : the role of strategic intelligence in the relations of the late Roman Empire with Persia and northern peoples. Strategic intelligence - that is, information about the activities and affairs of potential enemies relevant to a state's strategic concerns - is an important factor in the foreign relations of any state. This thesis investigates the role of strategic intelligence throughout Roman relations with Sasanian Persia (early 3rd to early 7th century A.D.) and in the empire's relations with northern peoples beyond the Danube, Rhine, and Hadrian's Wall while these remained imperial frontiers during the same period. Two broad questions are addressed. The first concerns the extent to which strategic intelligence moved between the empire and these neighbouring peoples, and its consequent role in their relations. The second concerns the means by which this information moved. Chapters 1 and 4 consider the first question for relations with Persia and with northern peoples respectively. The first chapter argues that strategic intelligence moved between the Roman and Persian empires with a high degree of regularity: neither could mount a major invasion without the other having some foreknowledge, and both frequently undertook aggressive action so as to exploit knowledge of the other's disadvantages. It is therefore argued
information frontier barbarian role strategic intelligence relation late roman_empire persia northern people strategic intelligence information activity affair potential enemy relevant state strategic concern important_factor foreign relation state investigates_role strategic intelligence throughout roman relation sasanian persia early early century empire relation northern people beyond rhine hadrian_wall remain imperial frontier period two_broad question_address first concern_extent strategic intelligence move empire neighbouring people consequent role relation second concern mean information move consider first question relation persia northern people respectively first argue strategic intelligence move roman persian empire high_degree regularity neither could mount major invasion without frequently undertook aggressive action exploit knowledge disadvantage therefore argue