How the Roman Empire met the edge of the Caspian Sea
While Roman history often focuses on Britain or North Africa, a vibrant frontier existed in the South Caucasus. This presentation explores how local leaders in modern Azerbaijan and Georgia navigated the space between Roman influence and Parthian trade.
The South Caucasus served as a dynamic borderland where local dynasties blended diverse cultural influences. Archaeological evidence shows these leaders built Roman-style bath complexes and used Greek inscriptions to declare ties to Rome, yet they simultaneously used Parthian coinage and imported vessels from the East.
Drawing on research from the summer of 2014, this talk examines Soviet and post-Soviet archaeological findings in Azerbaijan and Georgia. It highlights how these materials, often overlooked by non-Russian-speaking scholars, reveal a region that resisted simple identification with either the Roman or Parthian empires.
Source: Douglas G. Lovell, Jr. "Reports from the Field": The Romans who saw the Caspian Sea
