Note 15 — Chapter IV · A New Interpretation

Roman traders were active far beyond the limits of the empire. They constitute a familiar feature of Caesar’s campaigns in Gaul. For example, they were present in such numbers and with such equipment at the surrendering of the Aduatuci (Bell. Gall., II, 33) as to purchase and take over at once 53,000 captives, and a small campaign in the Alps was undertaken upon one occasion merely to open up a trade route for them (Ibid., III, 1). They mingled with the Suebi under Ariovistus (Ibid., I, 49, 1) and had frequently entered Germany, where they exerted a marked influence upon the Ubii (Ibid., IV, 3, 3) long before Caesar’s advent into Gaul. In later years we hear of them occasionally in Germany (Dio, 53, 26, 4; 54, 20, 4 etc.). Varus’ army had a large tross (Dio, 56, 20, 2), which must have been in part at least composed of traders. A. C. Redderoth (Der Angrivarierwall und die letzten Römerschlachten des Jahres 16 p. C., Toronto, 1912, p. 10 f.) is doubtless correct in emphasizing the importance of commercial considerations at this time in Germany, although our sources (like ancient historians in general) give only the scantiest indications of the influence of economic interests upon history. See Appendix, Chapter IV, note 16.