Romans and Refugees

Richard Miles provides an insightful look at the way Romans engaged with refugees during antiquity. I appreciate his inference of how modern societies can learn from the Romans. The quote below adequately captures this:

If there was one lesson that we might learn from Adrianople, it is that although it can never be guaranteed that generous treatment towards those who put themselves under our protection will ever be reciprocated, ungenerous behaviour can be absolutely guaranteed to breed bitterness, resentment and ultimately disaster. It is lesson that we would do well to heed.

Once again we can see the similarities between ancient societies and that of our own today. Regardless of the time period, human nature remains the same. Humans facing similar obstacles react in similar ways and produce potentially consistent outcomes.