The Romans acquired the area in the 1st century AD, rebuilt and encamped Tyras and Aliobrix. As with the rest of the port cities around the Black Sea, the local population absorbed a mixture of Greek and Roman cultures, with Greek being mainly the language of trade, and Latin the language of politics. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395, the area was included in the East Roman or Byzantine Empire. From 1st century AD, and until the invasion of Avars in 558, the Romans had established cities ("poleis"), military camps and some stations for the veterans and for the colons ("apoikion") sent by the emperors.