Subject: oldest purely &#39;fiat&#39; international boundary?<br/>
Date: Dec 05, 2001 @ 01:53<br/>
Author: David Mark (David Mark &lt;dmark@...&gt;)<br/>
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<div id="ygrps-yiv-421888621">What do you think is the oldest example of a purely &quot;fiat&quot; international<br/>
boundary? A purely fiat boudnary is one which is drawn independently of<br/>
any features on the earth&#39;s surface-- a straight line, an arc of a circle,<br/>
etc.  Can anyone give an example of such a boundary from ancient times?<br/>
By international we mean a boundary between two independent kingdoms or<br/>
realms. Negotiated, demarked boudnaries that follow drainage divides or<br/>
rivers don&#39;t count. I suspect that the Romans had them, perhaps earlier<br/>
groups, but cannot cite an example. My colleague suggests that they began<br/>
in the &#39;colonial&#39; period of the last 500-600 years. (The oldest of thise<br/>
would be interesting too.)<br/>
<br/>
David</div>