As we know Rome at it's height in 117 CE was one of the largest empires in the world stretching from Britain to Egypt. It had relations with many of the nations/empires of the Middle East and Africa, one of which being Ethiopia. Merchants traded, but not often so contact was limited. But, what if a ship that sailed out from one of the sea ports of Petrea (Arabian Peninsula) with the goal of establishing a permanent colony in Eastern Africa made it to the HoA and settled along the coast (Likely somewhere in Eritrea, Djibouti or Somalia).
Could it survive long enough to gain a permanent foot hold in Africa and if so, what would the impact be on the Old World?