Abstract
Egypt was a part of Roman and later Byzantine Empire for six and half centuries, from the creation of the province in the year 30 BC to the Arab conquest in year 641 AD. During this period over 50 Roman fortifications were built in Egypt and most of them them are very well preserved.
However they are only occasionally studied as a part of the larger fortification system. A network of fortresses in the Eastern desert was created during the Principate.
The majority of the fortifications in Nile valley and in the oases of the Western desert were created during the Dominate. This paper will focus on the changes in the fortification system and their functions during the Roman and Byzantine periods, placing the fortification systems in the context of the historical geopolitical situation.