Osprey Men-at-Arms 243 : Rome's Enemies (5) : The Desert Frontier

Rome's desert frontier was one where the Empire faced few dangers, for here relations were generally based on a mutual interest in trade across the frontier. The Berbers of North Africa were too few to be more than an occasional nuisance, while the 'threat' posed by desert nomads to the Fertile Crescent has always been exaggerated. Only when led by settled town-based people did the bedouin become a menace, rather than merely taking advantage of occasional breakdowns in authority to raid their neighbours. Nevertheless, an ending of Roman subsidies (or bribes to remain friendly) could lead to local difficulties. Even the doomed challenge posed by Palmyra under the formidable Queen Zenobia centred upon a wealthy desert city, a fertile oasis and vast trading links. Yet when Rome did clash with desert peoples, particularly those of Syria and Arabia, the mobility, fighting skills and ability to withdraw into an arid wilderness often gave the Arabs, Berbers and Sudanese a temporary edge. Such clashes also served to change the attitudes of a declining Roman Empire from the late 3rd century AD. David Nicolle explores the history and armies of Rome's enemies of the desert frontier accompanied by a wealth of illustrations and photographs, including eight full page colour plates by Angus McBride.

Contents

• The Desert Frontier
• Chronology
• North Africa
• Southern Arabia
• Central Arabia
• Syria
• Mesopotamia
• The Plates