Expanding north put the empire allowed it to be more easily targeted and attacked
The seas close by brought merchants and trade boats frequently
Nomads is the right answer.
Anyone who moves from one place to another rather residing in one place is called the nomads. There can be many reasons for the migration of the nomads such as herders change places because of the weather( that is not suitable for their animals). whereas, other nomads including that of the traders and merchants, travels move for exchanging of their goods.
