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Saracens and Romans: Micro-Macro Relationships

1989; University of Chicago Press; Volume: 274; Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/1357054

2161-8062

Philip Mayerson,

Classical Antiquity Studies

Banning (1986) and Parker (1987) have put forward contrasting viewpoints on the relationship of the nomadic population (Saracens) to the settled inhabitants (Romans) in the late Roman-Byzantine era, based essentially on their interpretations of different kinds of archaeological evidence. This paper takes the position that the true temper of the relationship can only be assessed by an analysis of the literary sources, which are particularly rich for that period. The complexities of that relationship are demonstrated in detail: there was both conflict and symbiosis between Roman and Saracen and a Pax Romana never existed between the two. As to the position that Roman military strategy was to monitor and control the movement of Arab tribes, there is no evidence that it ever did or indeed that it was designed for that purpose.