The Worthy House (Charles Haywood) Rome and Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry (Adrian Goldsworthy)
Apr 27, 2026
A lively tour of seven centuries of Roman and Persian rivalry, from Parthian rise to Sassanid power. Tales include Crassus’s disaster at Carrhae, Trajan’s eastern push and Hadrian’s retreat, and Shapur’s stunning victories. The conversation traces shifting war aims, scarce Persian sources, and how Arab unification abruptly ended the long competition.
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Wars Were Limited Not Total
- Roman–Persian wars were usually limited contests rather than attempts at total conquest.
- Goldsworthy stresses distance, demographic imbalance, and lack of incentive meant neither empire sought extermination of the other.
Persian History Is Fragmentary And Roman Filtered
- Our knowledge of ancient Persia is fragmentary and heavily filtered through Roman sources.
- Goldsworthy notes surviving evidence is mostly coins and inscriptions; many Roman records are lost, requiring cautious reconstruction.
Crassus Destroyed At Carrhae By Parthian Cavalry
- Crassus led seven legions into Parthia and was annihilated at Carrhae in 53 BC.
- Goldsworthy highlights Parthian cataphracts and horse archers as the tactical combo that destroyed Roman forces.
