The Romans used the word "Aethiopes" for people whose appearance suggested origins in sub-Saharan Africa. Separately, people of North African, rather than Sub-Saharan origins appeared throughout the empire. They were not described as Aethiopes. There is no evidence from the Roman period of systematic racial prejudice against either Aethiopes or North Africans, although ethnic stereotypes, normally unfavourable, were commonly applied to all ethnic groups.