Their respective territories were still separated by considerable tracts, which were in the occupation of the Syrians, the Cappadocians, and the Armenians.

Their interests had neither clashed, nor as yet sufficiently united them to give rise to any diplomatic intercourse.

But the progress of the two Empires in opposite directions was continually bringing them nearer to each other; and events had now reached a point at which the Empires began to have (or seem to have) such a community of interests as led naturally to an exchange of communications.

A great power had been recently developed in these parts.

In the rapid way so common in the East.