- How does Strabo describe pre-Roman Pontos, and how are the new cities portrayed?
- What is Strabo's view of Roman influence in the region, and what is his attitude towards Roman culture?
- What parts of Roman civilisation are described in positive terms, and when is Strabo criticising Roman power or the influence of Roman culture?
- Does Strabo have a cultural theory of his own, or do his judgements reflect topoi taken from the works of other authors, e.g. Poseidonios?
- Did Strabo write what he actually meant or what he thought his readers wanted to hear?
- The genre of Strabo: is he a geographer or a historian?
- The value of Strabo as a source for the early history of the Pompeian cities, especially Neoklaudiopolis and Pompeiopolis.