In "Barbari: Immigrati, profughi, deportati nell'impero romano," Alessandro Barbero explores the experiences of those who were displaced within the Roman Empire during the period of late antiquity. Through his examination of various historical sources, including inscriptions, legal codes, and literary texts, Barbero presents a complex picture of the diverse groups of people who were uprooted from their homes and forced to relocate throughout the Roman Empire.

Barbero's book challenges the traditional view of these groups as simply "barbarians" who were a threat to the stability and security of the Roman Empire. Instead, he shows that these groups were not homogeneous, but rather included a wide variety of individuals with their own unique cultures, languages, and traditions.

One of the key contributions of "Barbari" is its emphasis on the agency of these displaced people. Barbero highlights how many of these groups were not passive victims, but instead actively sought out new opportunities and negotiated with local authorities to gain a foothold in their new communities. He also notes how many of these groups were able to maintain their own cultural and linguistic identities, even as they assimilated into the larger Roman Empire.

Furthermore, Barbero's book challenges the popular misconception that the Roman Empire was a homogeneous and stable entity. He illustrates how the displacement of these groups often led to significant social, political, and cultural upheavals within the empire. This, in turn, influenced the development of new cultural and political identities in the centuries that followed.

Overall, "Barbari" provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Roman Empire and the experiences of those who lived within it. Barbero's detailed research and nuanced analysis shed new light on the diverse groups of people who were displaced within the empire, and the ways in which they shaped the course of its history.