Roman Britain: A New History 55 BC-AD 450

by Patricia Southern

For nearly four centuries, from AD 43 to 410, Britain was a small province on the north western edge of the vast Roman Empire. Patricia Southern’s masterly new history tells the story from first contact, through invasion and conquest, coexistence to eventual decline incorporating the political, social and cultural history of ‘Britannia’. For the first time the wealth of ‘voices’ from the varied population of Roman Britain are placed centre stage in the narrative. Indirectly via the works of ancient historians, annalists and biographers, and directly from building inscriptions, religious dedications, gravestones, graffiti, leaden curse tablets, artefacts and coins. Writers such as Gaius Julius Caesar, the geographer Strabo, the historian Tacitus, and the annalist Cassius Dio, describe Britain and the main historical events, but perhaps the most vivid source is the corpus of letters from the fort at Vindolanda in Northumberland, where named individuals talk about birthday parties and complain about the terrible state of the roads…

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Roman Britain

432 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[R Davies]

Feels unfair to rate a book I didn't finish.

This was the wrong book for me. I'd visited a roman ruin and picked up a book in the bookshop simply wanting to know a little bit more about the roman world in Britain.

This book though is for the scholars of this world, and perhaps archaeologists in particular, rather than the general reader with a casual interest like myself. I was looking for a fairly fluid narrative about life in Britain for the soldiers, the Britons themselves, etc. but instead it focuses on the minutiae of extant ruins, and is militantly cautious about any speculation as to various purposes, which is creditable from the historical record point of view, but infuriating from the readers'. That level of caution for the reader could be dealt with in the pre-amble, the introduction, rather than in every chapter. I'm not an idiot, I appreciate there will be limits to what can be known or extrapolated upon based on limited ruins, or more limited records or books, but that point does not need to be re-iterated every 10 pages or so.

But these are probably unfair laments, I am not the target reader of this book. It is nevertheless well written, and whilst I got bogged down in endless detail about forts ( I gave up around the chapter on the Antonine Wall ) that didn't interest me much, I can imagine it being a highly valuable resource for those much more invested in the subject matter.

Perhaps if I choose to allot myself to one chapter a month, that takes the pressure off.

[Paul Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

My love of the ancient world started, as a child, with Roman Britain and it’s remained a subject of keen interest ever since. Patricia Southern’s Roman Britain A New History: A New History 55BC-AD450 (I picked up my copy at Chedworth Roman Villa) provides an excellent overview of the subject.

The book follows a chronological approach and makes good use of the range of available sources: literary, inscriptions and archaeology. These ebb and flow across the period and the author is always careful, while trying to tell as full a story as possible, not to overclaim for specific pieces of evidence where we have little corroborating material.

The book also includes some background sections, embedded in the text, which provide some general material on specific topics such as Roman forts, shops and markets and going to the baths. These are of particular use to the general reader and help elucidate aspects of the historical narrative.

The 350 years during which Britain was part of the Roman Empire is of crucial importance in shaping our history. This book is a good place to start for those who want to know more about it.

[Wayne]

This was a very slow read. It's very academic and detailed and weaves lots of data points from archaeology and the limited historical sources. While it does a great job detailing what we know and don't know in minute details, it's definitely not for the lay person and there's not a coherent narrative to follow. I wanted to get a history of the Romans in Britain before my trip there and I just got tired of reading about what legion may have been at what outpost and who may have been governor at the time based on an inscription and no written sources.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I'm glad I read this book: it gave me a much better sense of how/when/where Britain and the Roman Empire intersected. However, the book will not be for everyone: it is scholastic in nature and very dense: not surprisingly, it reads much like a textbook. To me the biggest downside to the book was the use of un-translated Latin. There were many places where Southern translated new or unique terms but some terms were left untranslated and I was left guessing.

[Anscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly detailed, dense and archaeological, so can be heavy reading at times. I enjoyed it a lot for that (I certainly learnt a lot!), but I wouldn't say it's for the casual reader. But recommended for the Rome-obssessed archaeological fanatics of us out there, who want to know every detail there is to know about the history of Roman Britain!

[David Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

A great read. Full of facts and interesting information. Really gives you a good overview of how much a pain in the backsides the Brits were to the Romans.
The legacy of 400 years of occupation is well explained in all aspects. Easy reading too.
‘A fierce nation of warriors able to endure extreme cold and able live off roots and bark’....heck rather them than me!

[Michael Martin]

A very clear guide to the history of the Romans in Britain. Accessible and explains the gaps in the records.

[Frederick Widdowson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. There is a lot of information in here for any student of the Roman Empire or ancient Britain. I recommend reading it and taking your time in doing so.