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Fossatum Africae ("African ditch") is one or more linear defensive structures (sometimes called limes) claimed to extend over 750 km (470 mi) or more [1] in northern Africa constructed during the Roman Empire to defend and control the southern borders of the Empire in Africa. It is considered to be part of the greater frontier system in Roman ...
By the early 3rd century when its huge amphitheater was built, Thysdrus rivaled Hadrumetum (present-day Sousse) as the second city of Roman North Africa, after Carthage (near present-day Tunis). The city had even a huge racetrack ( circus ), nearly as large as the Circus Maximus at Rome and capable of accommodating about 30,000 spectators.
Limes (Latin; sg., pl.: limites) is a term used primarily for the Germanic border defence or delimiting system of ancient Rome marking the borders of the Roman Empire. [1] [2] The term has been extended in modern times to refer to the frontier defences in other parts of the empire, such as in the east and in Africa.
In Roman North Africa there were no continuous border fortifications such as Hadrian's Wall in Britain. The transitions on the Limes Africanus between Roman territory and the free tribal areas were fluid and were monitored only by the garrisons of a few outposts. Their security tasks were further complicated by long communication lines and the ...
The Roman empire in the time of Hadrian (ruled 117-38 AD), showing some of the main roads in Africa The Roman road network in North Africa. Almost all Roman roads in Africa were built in the first two centuries AD. In 14 AD, Legio III Augusta completed a road from Tacape to Ammaedara: the first Roman road in Africa.
Map of the Roman Empire in 125 during the reign of emperor Hadrian. The borders of the Roman Empire, which fluctuated throughout the empire's history, were realised as a combination of military roads and linked forts, natural frontiers (most notably the Rhine and Danube rivers) and man-made fortifications which separated the lands of the empire from the countries beyond.
Ancient Roman buildings and structures in North Africa (8 C) A. Roman sites in Algeria (2 C, 10 P) D. Roman sites in Djibouti (1 C) E.
Romans referred to sub-Saharan Africa as Aethiopia (Ethiopia), which referred to the people's "burned" skin. They also had available memoirs of the ancient Carthage explorer, Hanno the Navigator, being referenced by the Roman Pliny the Elder (c. 23–79) [2] and the Greek Arrian of Nicomedia (c. 86–160). [3]