Limes Arabicus

The study of the building techniques, the stratigraphic
sequences and the typological transformations of these three
quadriburgia within the broad context of the socio-political
changes operated in the region in Late Antiquity, has helped
not only to clarify the changes of use they underwent and the
technology involved, but also has shed light on their historical
context during the transitional period from Late Antiquity
to Early Islam. These structures bear witness of these historical
periods, offering an ideal and diversified catalogue of
building techniques, architectural typologies, and what is more
important, a recurrent pattern of physical transformations and
changes of use from the 3rd throughout the 8th C. AD. This
precise pattern involves the transformation and re-use of these
military structures in the 6th C. AD into religious (monasteries),
civil and palatine ones. These changes were apparently
carried out in most cases by the Ghassanids, the Christian Arab
foederati tribes entrusted with the task of the defence of the
Limes Arabicus as a result of the change of the defensive strategy
operated by Justinian. The information retrieved (technical
and historical) offers a new insight to some key issues of
the historical periods involved: These two sources of information
clarify the technical improvements and transformations
operated in the buildings, as well as the historical significance
that can be elicited from these changes.

The nature and historiography of Roman contact with the peoples of the Arabian East is a complex, understudied topic. Through the compilation and analysis of archaeological, textual, epigraphical, and geographical evidence, this paper demonstrates that the acquisition of Arabia was generally peaceful; the status of rulers in Nabataea and regional unrest inspired, at least in part, Roman annexation; client-style relationships persisted throughout the Roman period, challenging the traditional account of Roman "Grand Strategy"; and that the fortifications along the frontier served primarily as a policing force to act within the confines of Arabia. Previous scholarship is analyzed and contextualized, especially in regards to the nature of Roman-Arab relations. Additionally, new lines of evidence are proposed, including the need for further geographic analysis of the frontier.

This paper was written in partial completion of a Bachelor of Arts, with Honors, at the University of Missouri- Columbia, Department of History. Research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Jeffrey Stevens, University of Missouri-Columbia, Department of History.