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Ending Of Roman Britain
First published in 1991. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
- GenresHistory
242 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 1991
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January 5, 2011
The transition of Britain from a Celtic, Romanized outpost of empire to a patchwork of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms is one of the more mysterious areas of late antiquity. A. S. Esmonde Cleary's THE ENDING OF ROMAN BRITAIN is an attempt to figure out just how Roman culture disappeared from Britain.
Before examining Britain's final detachment from the Roman world, Cleary discusses earlier political turmoils in the Western Roman Empire that affected Britain. The crisis of the 3rd century, when the Empire saw a dizzy succession of rulers and even many recognized emperors were just lucky usurpers, is revealed to have had a more serious impact on northern Gaul and Britain than one might have expected. Indeed, the starting point for Britain's detachment in the early fifth century may well have been these turmoils 150 years earlier.
Cleary then discusses the economic system of the Roman empire, and the place of long-distance trade and coinage in the economy. We can deduce ups and downs in the economy of Roman Britain by the goods and coins found at various sites. When Cleary discusses some of the major excavations, many of which had come to light almost recently, he does so in gentle manner accessible to readers without formal training in archaeology. The book is lavishly illustrated with layouts of these excavations, and Cleary defines the terminology that archaeologists use for peculiar types of buildings and soil.
What the sites reveal is a drastic and sudden loss of institutions and technology associated with the Roman Empire. Whatever happened, it happened quickly and completely. To an extent, this remains a mystery, even when recent digs have come to light and taught us some things. What is certain is that Roman Britain did not fall to the Anglo-Saxons: there is a gap of several years between the loss of Roman authority and the arrival of Germanic tribes.
After showing us the physical evidence (or lack thereof), Cleary examines the literary sources. Some early documents, such as Gildas, are useful towards understanding societal changes of the period, but Anglo-Saxon chronicles are shown to be quite untrustworthy as history. King Arthur buffs will enjoy the process by which early medieval Britain became mythologized. The final chapter looks at several possible definitions of "continuity", and then underscores the point made earlier that the Anglo-Saxons entered among "post-Roman Britons" and did not invade a Roman society.
This is a very fun book and a useful introduction to a key period of Western history. Not being an archaeologist, I cannot say how controversial some of Cleary's conclusions may be, but much of the discussion of archaeology and the literary tradition is entirely mainstream, so THE ENDING OF ROMAN BRITAIN is a profitable read for all.
Before examining Britain's final detachment from the Roman world, Cleary discusses earlier political turmoils in the Western Roman Empire that affected Britain. The crisis of the 3rd century, when the Empire saw a dizzy succession of rulers and even many recognized emperors were just lucky usurpers, is revealed to have had a more serious impact on northern Gaul and Britain than one might have expected. Indeed, the starting point for Britain's detachment in the early fifth century may well have been these turmoils 150 years earlier.
Cleary then discusses the economic system of the Roman empire, and the place of long-distance trade and coinage in the economy. We can deduce ups and downs in the economy of Roman Britain by the goods and coins found at various sites. When Cleary discusses some of the major excavations, many of which had come to light almost recently, he does so in gentle manner accessible to readers without formal training in archaeology. The book is lavishly illustrated with layouts of these excavations, and Cleary defines the terminology that archaeologists use for peculiar types of buildings and soil.
What the sites reveal is a drastic and sudden loss of institutions and technology associated with the Roman Empire. Whatever happened, it happened quickly and completely. To an extent, this remains a mystery, even when recent digs have come to light and taught us some things. What is certain is that Roman Britain did not fall to the Anglo-Saxons: there is a gap of several years between the loss of Roman authority and the arrival of Germanic tribes.
After showing us the physical evidence (or lack thereof), Cleary examines the literary sources. Some early documents, such as Gildas, are useful towards understanding societal changes of the period, but Anglo-Saxon chronicles are shown to be quite untrustworthy as history. King Arthur buffs will enjoy the process by which early medieval Britain became mythologized. The final chapter looks at several possible definitions of "continuity", and then underscores the point made earlier that the Anglo-Saxons entered among "post-Roman Britons" and did not invade a Roman society.
This is a very fun book and a useful introduction to a key period of Western history. Not being an archaeologist, I cannot say how controversial some of Cleary's conclusions may be, but much of the discussion of archaeology and the literary tradition is entirely mainstream, so THE ENDING OF ROMAN BRITAIN is a profitable read for all.
Displaying 1 of 1 review