Another Brick in Hadrian's Wall - The Pax Romana Podcast 039

Hadrian's Wall served as the Roman frontier in Britain for nearly 300 years. While not an impenetrable barrier, it deterred large-scale raids, allowed for the regulation of trade, and provided a base for Roman military operations when necessary. Hadrian’s Wall is both a symbol of Rome’s final ruinous end, but also of the extent to which the Roman peace was an illusion. Ultimately, the Wall failed to protect the Empire—not only from outside invasions, but as we will continue to show on this podcast—from Rome’s own emperors, and the fatal flaws of arrogance, decadence and unbridled power. Primary Sources Referenced: Vindolanda Tablet 291