Non daté
Libyan desert
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Fezzan is a region of the Libyan desert that served as a zone of Roman military activity beyond the imperial frontier. The passage mentions expeditions by Balbus, Flaccus, and Maternus, with the latter penetrating deepest into the desert. Information from these campaigns contributed to Ptolemy’s geographical account of Africa.
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Le récit
Fezzan appears as an interior desert region beyond the Roman frontier. The Roman army conducted punitive expeditions into this area, making it one of the places through which Roman power encountered the Libyan desert beyond the settled African provinces. These campaigns also generated geographical information later used by Ptolemy.
Three expeditions are named: Balbus in 19 BCE, Flaccus in 70 CE, and Maternus in 86 CE. The expedition of Maternus is described as the one that pushed deepest into the Libyan desert. The sequence suggests a gradual extension of Roman reconnaissance and military reach, though the passage does not describe the routes or outcomes in detail.
Fezzan is therefore important not only as a frontier zone but also as a source of knowledge about the African interior. The extract emphasizes that Ptolemy drew on information obtained during these punitive expeditions when preparing his map of Inner Libya. The region links military history, imperial geography, and the limits of ancient written knowledge.
Non daté
Libyan desert
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Fezzan is a region of the Libyan desert that served as a zone of Roman military activity beyond the imperial frontier. The passage mentions expeditions by Balbus, Flaccus, and Maternus, with the latter penetrating deepest into the desert. Information from these campaigns contributed to Ptolemy’s geographical account of Africa.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Fezzan appears as an interior desert region beyond the Roman frontier. The Roman army conducted punitive expeditions into this area, making it one of the places through which Roman power encountered the Libyan desert beyond the settled African provinces. These campaigns also generated geographical information later used by Ptolemy.
Three expeditions are named: Balbus in 19 BCE, Flaccus in 70 CE, and Maternus in 86 CE. The expedition of Maternus is described as the one that pushed deepest into the Libyan desert. The sequence suggests a gradual extension of Roman reconnaissance and military reach, though the passage does not describe the routes or outcomes in detail.
Fezzan is therefore important not only as a frontier zone but also as a source of knowledge about the African interior. The extract emphasizes that Ptolemy drew on information obtained during these punitive expeditions when preparing his map of Inner Libya. The region links military history, imperial geography, and the limits of ancient written knowledge.