Roman Scotland

by David J. Breeze

Two thousand years ago the Roman army, one of the world's most successful fighting machines, set out to conquer Scotland. Three invasions were attempted and each ended in withdrawal. These forays have left their mark on today's landscape in the form of impressive earthworks—the remains of forts and frontiers constructed by the army, including the famous and spectacular Antonine Wall. Using the latest archaeological evidence and contemporary Roman documents, including the uniquely informative Vindolanda writing tablets, Dr Breeze assesses these three periods of occupation and the effect they had on Scotland and its people. He asks: why the Romans chose to invade and why they failed, what was the strength and nature of the invasion force, how strong was the opposition, what was daily life like for civilians and soldiers, and what was the relationship between Rome and the northern tribes after the Roman withdrawal. Copiously illustrated with photographs and drawings, this informative and lively guide is enhanced by specially commissioned reconstruction drawings of military installations.

Genres: History

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

David John Breeze, OBE, FSA, FRSE, Hon FSA Scot, Hon MIFA is a British archaeologist, teacher and scholar of Hadrian's Wall, the Antonine Wall and the Roman army.

He was the Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments at Historic Scotland and responsible for the nomination of the Antonine Wall as a World Heritage Site.

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An accessible read to Roman Scotland - definitely recommend.