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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.
FOLLOWING PAGES: To select a state for further information, click anywhere within its borders.
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The Middle East
Eastern Roman Borders circa AD 1-200
by Peter Kessler, 10 August 2005
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Images and text copyright © P L Kessler. An original feature for the
History Files.