There are several reasons why the Roman’s interest in Britain increased from the beginning of the second century BC. Therefore, I would like to illustrate one of them as an introductory approach to Roman Britain based on the book called Greeks, Romans and Barbarians by Barry Cunliffe. Since Rome had become an imperial power and had destroyed its two most powerful trading rivals, Carthage and Corinth, in 146 BC, the Roman state required a constant flow of raw materials such as iron and bronze. This need, and the endemic militarism of the state, led inevitably to a process of economic exploitation of peripheral areas, followed by conquest (Cunliffe 1988: 10). In this way, as Cunliffe points out, the Roman traders and the army leapfrogged over each other across barbarian Europe, beginning to absorb the largely Celtic tribes into the Roman system from 54 BC to 440 AD when the Romans left Britain due to shrinking empire.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Roman advance to Britain by trade
- Roman invasion by military forces
- Romanisation in Britain
- End of Roman Britain
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text aims to provide an overview of Roman Britain, focusing on the period from the initial Roman interest in the second century BC to the end of Roman rule. It explores the processes of Roman influence and control, highlighting the interaction between Roman and Celtic cultures.
- The economic and military motivations behind Roman expansion into Britain.
- The nature and extent of Romanization in Britain, including its impact on language, culture, and daily life.
- The persistence of Celtic culture and resistance to Roman rule.
- The role of trade and commerce in the Romanization process.
- The political and military events that shaped the Roman presence in Britain.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context for the Roman involvement in Britain. It emphasizes Rome's need for raw materials and its expansionist policy as key drivers for its interest in the region. The author uses Barry Cunliffe's "Greeks, Romans and Barbarians" to frame the discussion, highlighting the interplay between Roman economic exploitation and military conquest in the process of absorbing Celtic tribes into the Roman system. The chapter sets the stage for examining the subsequent phases of Roman influence in Britain.
Roman advance to Britain by trade: This chapter focuses on the initial Roman engagement with Britain through trade, primarily centered around the tin trade of Cornwall. It explains how Roman economic exploitation led to the opening of Atlantic trade routes to Roman entrepreneurs. The chapter details the key exports of Britain—iron, bronze, copper, and lead—and emphasizes that Roman influence didn't replace Celtic culture but created a dual Romano-British civilization, as described by Sheppard Frere in "Britannia." The peaceful integration, driven by the perceived advantages of Roman peace and prosperity, is a key theme.
Roman invasion by military forces: This chapter discusses the military invasions of Britain, beginning with Julius Caesar's campaigns and continuing with the later conquest under Claudius. The author draws on sources including Raymond Hickey's "Linguistics Surveyor" and works by Frere and Cunliffe. It highlights that despite a flourishing tin trade, Roman conquest was not complete, with significant Celtic strongholds remaining in Wales and Scotland. The chapter also explores the conflicts between Roman factions and their alliances with local Celtic leaders, and the eventual consolidation of Roman power in 43-47 AD.
Romanisation in Britain: This chapter details the process of Romanization, focusing on its impact in towns and among the ruling classes. The spread of education, the construction of public buildings, and the adoption of Roman customs (such as bathhouses and dinner parties) are highlighted. The author contrasts the Romanized urban centers with the linguistically Celtic countryside, pointing to evidence of Roman influence in architecture (rectangular villas) and the emergence of wine-drinking among the aristocracy. The chapter also discusses the later development of more sophisticated Roman-style living, including mosaics and frescoes, and the popularity of gladiatorial spectacles.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Roman Britain, Romanization, Celtic culture, trade, military conquest, Hadrian's Wall, Latin language, Roman architecture, Christianity, paganism.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Overview of Roman Britain
What is the text about?
This text provides a comprehensive overview of Roman Britain, covering the period from initial Roman interest in the 2nd century BC to the end of Roman rule. It examines the processes of Roman influence and control, highlighting the interplay between Roman and Celtic cultures. The text includes an introduction, chapter summaries, objectives, key themes, and keywords.
What are the main themes explored in the text?
The key themes include the economic and military motivations behind Roman expansion into Britain; the nature and extent of Romanization, its impact on language, culture, and daily life; the persistence of Celtic culture and resistance to Roman rule; the role of trade and commerce in Romanization; and the political and military events shaping the Roman presence in Britain.
How did the Roman advance into Britain begin?
The Roman advance initially involved trade, particularly the tin trade of Cornwall. This economic exploitation opened Atlantic trade routes to Roman entrepreneurs. Britain exported iron, bronze, copper, and lead. This period saw a dual Romano-British civilization, with Roman influence not entirely replacing Celtic culture.
What role did military conquest play?
Military invasions, beginning with Julius Caesar and continuing under Claudius, played a crucial role. Despite the flourishing tin trade, Roman conquest wasn't complete, with significant Celtic strongholds remaining. Conflicts between Roman factions and alliances with Celtic leaders marked this era, culminating in the consolidation of Roman power in 43-47 AD.
What was the process of Romanization in Britain like?
Romanization impacted towns and the ruling classes, with the spread of education, construction of public buildings, and the adoption of Roman customs. Urban centers became Romanized, contrasting with the linguistically Celtic countryside. Roman influence is evident in architecture (rectangular villas) and the emergence of wine-drinking among the aristocracy. Later, more sophisticated Roman-style living, including mosaics and frescoes, and gladiatorial spectacles became popular.
What are the key sources mentioned in the text?
The text references works by Barry Cunliffe ("Greeks, Romans and Barbarians"), Sheppard Frere ("Britannia"), and Raymond Hickey ("Linguistics Surveyor"). These sources provide historical context and support the arguments presented.
What are the key words associated with the text?
Keywords include Roman Britain, Romanization, Celtic culture, trade, military conquest, Hadrian's Wall, Latin language, Roman architecture, Christianity, and paganism.
What is the overall objective of the text?
The text aims to provide a comprehensive overview of Roman Britain, focusing on the period from initial Roman interest to the end of Roman rule. It explores the processes of Roman influence and control, emphasizing the interaction between Roman and Celtic cultures.
What is covered in the Introduction chapter?
The introduction sets the context for Roman involvement in Britain, emphasizing Rome's need for raw materials and expansionist policy. It uses Cunliffe's work to frame the discussion, highlighting the interplay between economic exploitation and military conquest in absorbing Celtic tribes.
What are the chapter summaries included in the text?
The text includes summaries for each chapter: Introduction, Roman advance to Britain by trade, Roman invasion by military forces, and Romanization in Britain. These summaries briefly outline the key points and arguments of each chapter.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Hildegard Schnell (Autor:in), 2007, Roman Britain, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/83373
