Defining the Parthian Empire

A free lunchtime talk by Supratik Baralay arguing that the Arsacid Parthian empire consciously defined its boundaries in all four cardinal directions.

Supratik Baralay examines how the Arsacid (Parthian) empire delimited its imperial landscape, arguing that official spatial ideology can be detected in Classical texts and Parthian documents. He locates the empire's western boundary at the Euphrates, its eastern edge at cities in Afghanistan, its northern limit at the Karakum Desert and its southern boundary around the Persian Gulf, presenting Parthia as a self-contained territory rather than merely Rome's eastern enemy. The talk runs 13:15–14:00 in the Levett Room, with tea, coffee and cakes provided, and is open to all.