Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
I've read a pile of books about Roman Britain and the bottom line is that nobody is entirely sure what function the walls that Hadrian built around his Empire were meant to have.

One mistake many people make is thinking that Hadrian's wall was unique. In fact, Hadrian had walls constructed to delineate Roman boundaries across Germany and North Africa as well as Britain.

The most mystifying thing is that specific boundary-lines flew in the face of how the borders of the Empire worked.

Romans considered their Imperium being boundless (Imperium sine fine). In fact the borders were layer upon layer. Beyond the Provinces were kingdoms of the so-called "client kings" ("friends and allies of the Roman people") and beyond those were kingdoms and/or tribes which had looser relationships with Rome. Thus you would encounter Roman traders and Roman diplomats well beyond the edge of the Provinces proper.

This is why Hadrian's system didn't fit Roman practice. There were always Roman forts north of Hadrian's Wall- going beyond the wall didn't mean going beyond Roman influence and control.

So the Romans themselves probably didn't see the point of these walls.

Best we can figure they were there, as you say, to help regulate trade. Thousands of people crossed through the walls every day, and they were taxed for everything they brought across.

Also as you say probably to inhibit banditry, which was a constant problem in the Empire.
Not just across Germany, many years ago I walked part of the Limas in the Hessen forests with the Scouts. A couple of years back in the Netherlands I walked another part of it by chance with some friends. It was strange thinking it was over 32 years between!!