Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russia?

Discussion in 'Historical Events Coffee House' started by MrUnclepeanuts, Oct 25, 2011.

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  1. MrUnclepeanuts Well-Known Member

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    This question has been soaring in my mind ever since first learning about the Roman Republic/Empire, but why did the Romans never even discover what is today Western Russia(eastern Europe) I mean at the height of its power the Romans conquered, Central Europe. Western Europe, some of Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Northern Africa, but never discovered more of Eastern Europe? it just doesn't make any logical sense whatsoever, they were right at the tip of Russia's border but never disovered it? Or did they know of it's existence but never got the chance to conquer the land?


    Also another question I'd like to ask you guys, do you think modern civilization would of been effected at all if they conquered Russia?
    MrUnclepeanuts, Oct 25, 2011
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  2. Spartacus Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    They did discover it, many expeditons for trade and just plain knowledge were sent in that direction. And the romans where not on the border to modern day russia, they fully conquered modern day germany, and when you say conquer russia do mean ALL of modern day russia or just where muskovy and the like where located? either way yea history would be very different.
    Spartacus, Oct 26, 2011
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  3. yuri2045 A Marines Biologist

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    Romans only ever conquered up to the Rhine valley in Germany, they never got to conquer Germania or Scania.
    The romans knew about Western Russia, their problem was that W.Russia was inhabited by nomad tribes, plus there was no reason to conquer it, they had to deal with internal struggles first.
    yuri2045, Oct 26, 2011
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  4. D3adtrap www.twitter.com/d3adtrap | Mr. Choc: Coco Fruits

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Or they did send an huge invading force, but it froze to death. And as no one returned, it became a myth and was denied by Roman Government using mass media that was Socrates at time.
    D3adtrap, Oct 26, 2011
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  5. battleearl Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Until the second century the Romans were expanding their empire. However at some point they were not really interested any more, but instead they reinforced their borders along the Rhine and Danube river and tried to keep their conquered lands. I think it was during the time of Hadrian or Trajan...
    battleearl, Oct 26, 2011
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  6. The Shaw Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Explorers went there. And the reason they never conquered it was because they had no need to. The only things there were savage, violent barbarians. And the only way to get there was by trekking through wild forests full of wild men, who were worse than the Russians. And they never owned any of eastern Europe, they had some of central Europe(very little) and the Balkans.

    In short, why should they have?
    The Shaw, Oct 26, 2011
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  7. mdhookey Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    The Romans did have an active presence in the Crimea (modern day Ukraine) for a while, and their largest settlement garrison was in Charax, which is next to today's Yalta. The area also had Greek colonies previously too, so this area was no stranger to outside contact.

    I think the Romans knew about Western Russia, but it was a hostile land of proto-Slavic tribes and the climate was harsh. I remember a professor telling me once in real simple terms that the Romans stopped conquering lands that couldn't grow wine and other basic Roman staples. Also, any expansion of the Empire in that direction would require serious overstretching. The Romans also knew about Ireland, but they saw no interest in putting legions there.

    Just like someone said earlier, the Romans never fully conquered Germany either because the Germanic tribes here were utterly hostile, plus this was "wild country." I actually happen to live in a city founded by the Romans; they called it Castra Regina. It was essentially a border town where the Romans could handle trade and keep an eye out on the barbarian lands lying outside their walls. Some of those walls are still here 2,000 years later.
    mdhookey, Oct 26, 2011
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  8. MrUnclepeanuts Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    thanks for the replies, I was just extremely curious is all.
    MrUnclepeanuts, Oct 26, 2011
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  9. slydessertfox Total War Branch Head

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Stupid Varrus. He had to screw everything up. :lol:
    slydessertfox, Oct 26, 2011
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  10. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    If Varrus had lived, you get Gunpowder Empire by Harry Turtledove.
    Trajan came first, and he was the last real "warrior emperor" and he made a bit of expansion. And then Hadrian came along and began building the defenses across the empire.
    General Mosh, Oct 26, 2011
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  11. Link NO SWAG

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    What makes them barbarians? Is it violence, because I'm pretty sure the Romans are pretty fucking violent as well. This is fucking ignorant.
    Link, Oct 26, 2011
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  12. yuri2045 A Marines Biologist

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    I agree with Link on this, Romans weren't the most noble kind of people, they pillaged and destroyed entire cities. (see Kart-Hadast)
    yuri2045, Oct 26, 2011
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  13. Achtung Kommunisten! Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Perhaps, but the Romans called them barbarians, and (I might be wrong) it didn't have the same negative connotation as it does now, as in it simply meant 'non-Roman'.
    Seeing as the Romans never conquered all of Germany, and the likes of the Huns were what came from Eastern Europe, i'd say it's entirely reasonable that Rome never got to Russia. In effect, i'd say they were 'boxed in' by the Germans, Huns, Slavs, etc. There were some relatively powerful kingdoms (some of which were probably clients of Rome) in Eastern Europe I think.
    Achtung Kommunisten!, Oct 26, 2011
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  14. pedro3131 Running the Show While the Big Guy's Gone

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Well seeing as our modern definition of the word barbarian was derived from a Hellenistic / Roman tradition, and they refered to the Celts, Gauls, Goths, etc as barbarians, I'm inclined to defer to their judgement. . See Oxford Definition " One living outside the pale of the Roman empire and its civilization"
    pedro3131, Oct 26, 2011
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  15. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    I think its just because back then anyone who wasn't Roman was considered a barbarian and "uncultured".
    General Mosh, Oct 26, 2011
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  16. Karakoran Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    It varied from tribe to tribe, but most of them could hardly be considered civilized.
    Karakoran, Oct 26, 2011
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  17. General Mosh Citystates Founder!

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Neither could almost all nations after the fall of Roman Empire until MAYBE the 1000's. Thats 600 years of "barbarian" rule. Meaning Barbarians are SURVIVORS!!!
    General Mosh, Oct 26, 2011
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  18. mdhookey Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    [IMG]

    "Bah! What uncivilized brutes these barbarians are! They don't shave or bathe and they can't read...

    Time to go to the Colosseum now to watch the gladiators kill each other and giraffes."
    mdhookey, Oct 27, 2011
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  19. slydessertfox Total War Branch Head

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    Kara I got a question for you. How come the Aztecs were these evil people who had to be destroyed because they sacrificed people by ripping out their hearts, but its perfectly fine if the Romans make gladiators fight to the death for entertainment?
    slydessertfox, Oct 27, 2011
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  20. Toast Well-Known Member

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    Why did the Romans never discover what is today W. Russi

    I do enjoy Kara vs the Aztecs debates, but it's sad seeing such a unique topic being derailed by Kara's stupid ideas.
    Toast, Oct 27, 2011
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