Roman Britain: Outpost of the Empire

by H.H. Scullard

Combining classical scholarship with recent archeological discoveries, Scullard recreates what life was like in Roman Britain, detailing merchants' activities, the mixing of pagan and Christian religions, and the emergence of the city

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Roman Britain, Archaeology, Reference, British Literature, Roman

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Howard Hayes Scullard, FBA, FSA was a British historian specializing in ancient history, notable for editing the Oxford Classical Dictionary and for his many books. His early education was at Highgate School, followed by St. John's College, Cambridge. He was a tutor and then reader at New College London, from 1935 to 1959, after which be became Professor of Ancient History at King's College London before retiring in 1970.

Perhaps his most widely known work is From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68, a text widely used by students studying Rome in the late republic, as well as Rome under the Julio-Claudians.

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dry, but up-to-date as of time of publication, review of what we know of Roman Britain, cautiously presented. Having read several other books on the subject, this served as a reminder. Lots of black and white photographs and maps.

[Keith Karr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Britain's Roman history has struggled with being overshadowed by the larger story elsewhere in the Roman Empire, or the island's more memorable history after the Norman Conquest. The significance of these islands should not be overstated for the Empire as a whole, but the contact between the Empire and the inhabitants of these islands have left an indelible mark on both.

For Rome, these islands represented the extension of their territory beyond the edges of the known world. Campaigns, or attempted campaigns, against Britain served as a PR boost for a flagging emperor. The campaign to control the island and its many resources represented the Roman divide and conquer method at its best. While the conquest of the whole island remained out of reach for Roman, as for many later invaders, the assimilation of their area of control into Roman society was thorough. While Britain was never in the center of the Roman sphere, it at times played a significant role in the affairs of the Roman world. Constantine's rise to the throne of the Empire began on this outlying island. For as strongly as the native inhabitant's fought against the Roman occupation, there was no stronger mourners of the Empire's slow decline and withdrawal.

Roman Britain offers a concise and clear overview of the nearly 5 centuries of interaction between the island and the Empire. While the discussion is brief, it is comprehensive of the history, culture and legacy of Rome. Illustrations aid in visualizing the Roman artifacts of in recreating the original. This book is not a through examination of the period, but it does summarize the earliest recorded interaction of these islands which would move from the periphery to the center of Western history.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many people have the impression that the Roman presence in Britain was brief, and the empire’s effect on Britain was minimal. Quite the contrary. In spite of Britain’s distance from Rome, the Roman impact on Britain was profound and long-lasting. Rome’s technological and engineering advances turned Britain from a situation of farms and small villages into a much-more organized and modern system of cities, towns, farms, villas, and forts. Scullard does an excellent job of embellishing his history with very interesting remarks on the meaning of it all, with the conglomeration and clash of Celtic and Roman culture, and later the clash with the invasive Christian culture with the more meaningful and fun-loving traditional Roman polytheism. A very good read, with a ton of fascinating facts.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read and re-read this entertaining book about the history of Roman Britain many times. Interestingly, it was rescued from a yard sale:)

[Kajah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit dated (my copy is a bit musty), but it's concentration on the islands we would eventually come to know as the United Kingdom is pretty interesting. While this is a book for general readers, there is alot of tantalizing detail and the visual aide really do help in imagining what it might have been like as a Roman on the mysterious and sometimes ominous land of Britannia.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty dry.

[Giullia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive, if rather dated, overview.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit my book blog ---> http://allthebookblognamesaretaken.bl... if you want to see a few photos from my visit to Bath to see the Roman Baths. So cool!!

Though the text is a bit dated (1979), it still contains a wealth of information, photos and maps. I have yet to find a book put out by Thames and Hudson that I have not enjoyed. Certainly I would recommend it still today, despite being 30+ years old. I find this time period so fascinating, more so in relation to it being Roman Britain specifically - not just regarding the Roman aspect.

My only wish is that at least some of the photographs might have been in color - though it is possible that updated texts would have color photography. And, of course, I have my own photos of the Roman Baths in Bath, which Mom and I visited in 2009 as part of our UK trip. It was so amazing to see these structures that have existed for almost 2,000 years. That these ruins have survived as much as they have continues to amaze me and the preservation work that has gone into this place is wonderful. I can't wait to go back to the UK and see other remains from this ancient age (Hadrian's Wall, I'm lookin' at you!)

[Dickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating account of Romans conquest, occupation and later abandon of Britain but slightly dated with copyright 1979. I hope to find a more recent publication to see how the story has changed based on recent discoveries. I gave it a lower rating because of the very small print which was murder on the eyes.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read a similar book a few years back but it was dated 1966. This adds about 20 years scholarship to that. Satisfied my occasional Saxon fascination with this period of Roman civilization encroaching and falling.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it four stars if not for the excessively detailed military descriptions, but I suppose many people ready this book would be interested in such things. Otherwise it was well-organized and thorough and I enjoyed it mostly, especially the photos.

[John Stadt]

Picked it on impulse from the library and surprised myself by reading the whole book. Concur with Diffell's Facebook review.

[Iain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent coverage of the Roman period in Britain but nothing stellar.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Excellent book regarding the life and history of the Romans in Britain.