oa Grensgevallen

The subject of this article is the interaction between the military and civilian communities in the Dutch Limes zone. Central questions are what influence the Roman army had on the civilian population, how the contacts between both groups were shaped, and how the individual soldiers interacted with civilians. The influence of the army was most prominent at the forts, but was also present outside the areas where the military was stationed. Civilians enlisted in the army, creating intermediaries. The Roman cities also functioned as transition points between the army and the civilian population, but they may have had other, more primary military functions as well. Contacts between the two groups were generally peaceful and provided benefits for both. As military and civilian communities became increasingly intertwined, it is likely that individual contacts between the two also contributed to this process.