The Middle East

Looking at the general borders of states in this region around this period, it can be seen why the Kingdom of Armenia was used as a buffer and a battlefield by the Romans on their western border and the Parthians on their eastern border. While this was happening, kingdoms in the Caucuses to the north were forming and gaining strength.

Iberia and Armenia were closely linked for a time, and at its greatest extent in the first century BC, Armenia stretched down to Syria. Pontus was also a close ally of Armenia's, until it was conquered by Rome.

During the first century AD, the Alans were a major force in Sarmatia, to the north of Kolkis. They even raided as far south as Armenia in circa AD 70.

The medieval Kingdom of Lesser Armenia was based in Cilicia, on the northern Mediterranean coast of Anatolia, and is not shown here.

The Kingdom of Media was conquered by Persia in the sixth century BC, but it did make a brief reappearance circa AD 70 as the Parthian Empire fragmented.

Images and text copyright © P L Kessler. An original feature for the History Files.