Enemies of Ancient Rome: History of the Ancient Civilizations That Defined Our World: The Dacians

Dacia. To most it means nothing; to history, it is a footnote. To the Romans, it represented the biggest external threat during the beginnings of empire. The Dacians were one of the largest barbarian nations in the ancient world, and unlike many other civilizations, they had mastered the use of iron.

For over a century, Dacia would harass and attack Roman settlements. For over a century, Dacian kings would defy the authority of Roman emperors. For over a century, Dacia would remain a threat poised over the northern border of Rome, yet mysteriously little information remains from this once sprawling kingdom.

When Rome faced a threat, it eradicated every aspect of that threat, including its army, its borders, and its national identity. Dacia would prove no exception.