End of Roman Britain and its legacy

2. Religious Controversy
Pelagius Augustine
• Moral perfection is • Perfection is
attainable in this life impossible without
without the divine grace divine grace
through human free will, – We are born sinners
– Not all humanity was guilty (original sin)
in Adam's sin,
– Adam had condemned
humankind through bad
example,
– Christ’s good example offered
a path to salvation,

3. Continued Religious Controversy
• Missions from Continent to remnants of
Christianity in Britain
– More concern for deviation than paganism

4. Military decline
• Legion strength reduced to 10% of former
level
• Limitanei less well trained
• Units of federates?

5. Revolt in the Provinces
• Military revolts elevate Marcus, Gratian
(407), Constantine III(407)
• Withdrawal of troops

6. Revolt in Provinces
• Rejection of central authority
– No taxation without protection?
– Allegiance to Honorius not Constantine III?
• Reaction of Honorius
– Inability to provide protection
– No protection wo taxation?

7. The ties are broken
• 406 Effective end of diocesan control
• 409 Britain expels Roman officials
• 410 Defense of Britain left to civitates
• Reassertion by elite Celts who occupy hill-
towns and forts in outlying areas.
• End of Pax Romana
• Migrations to Ireland, Brittany, Gaul

8. Breakdown of Urban Britain
• No new coins after 402 (?)
• Abandoned homes
• New homes built in rubble
• Layers of black dirt – weeds or agricultural
use
• Burial within walls

9. Verulamium

10. Canterbury Burial

11. Canterbury Burial

12. Environment

13. Climate Change
• Glacial advance c. 400
• Increased rainfall c. 400
• Cooling after 350
• Sea level rise 120-400
• Rhine freezes in 406 allowing barbarians to
cross

14. Impacts on Agriculture
• Marginal boundary drops in altitude
• Increased rainfall-increased erosion
• Impact of military demand
• Disruption of traditional agriculture in
border regions
• Changes in labor supply
• Famine-reported by Gildas

15. Example: Upper Thames
• Spelt wheat disappears but flax and barley
continue
• Cattle decrease while sheep increase
• Exotics disappear
• Reduced population, changed social
structure or climate change?

16. Agriculture and Influences
• Reforestation at end of Roman period
• Loss of military market
• Loss of urban markets
• Loss of labor

17. Consequences
• Coinage disappears
• Loss of skilled masons and engineers
– Timber buildings
• Loss of industry
– Hand molded pottery
• Exceptions – continuity of use at some level

18. Continuity at Vindolanda
Latin inscription – Christian symbol
British name

19. The end of Roman Britain: what
ended, when and why?
Video Lecture
Dr Andrew Gardner (UCL Institute of
Archaeology)
Originally given Tuesday 9 March 2010
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/lhl/lhlpub_spring10/13_090310
• Also at iTunes University and YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlwwLrA35YI
.

20. Legacy
•What role did Roman culture play
in Britain after the army left?
•What were the effects of 400+
years of contact and occupation?

21. Legacy of Rome - Food
• Introduced crops that remain during Anglo-
Saxon period
• Introduced crops that disappear at end of
Roman administration
• Introduced animals that remain after Roman
administration ends

22. Vegetables, herbs

23. Meats

24. Fruits

25. Legacy of Rome
Language
• Latin enters English through Anglo-Saxon
• Latin enters English through Old English
• Latin enters English through Norman
French
• Latin enters English through Welsh?

26. Legacy of Rome
Political-Economic Structures
• Written law
• Cash economy - denarius
• Fixed hierarchy
• City

27. Legacy of Rome
Technology
• Roads
• Military – obsolete
• Stone buildings – stone is recycled
• City – Walls are later used

28. Legacy of Rome (and Greece) - Time
• Seven day week
– Etruscans and early Romans used 8-day market
week
– Days named for gods
• Lunar calendar aligned with solar year

29. Week
Greek Helios Selenes Ares Hermes Dios Aphrodie Kronos
Latin Sol Luna Mars Mercury Jove Venus Saturn
Old Sunnandæg Mōnan- Tīwes- Wōdnes- Þures- Frīgedæg Sæternes-
English

30. Legacy of Rome
Religion - Christianity
• Remnant
• Reintroduced from continent
• Reintroduced from Ireland

31. Legacy of Rome
`By letting the vanquished become partners in
your own law, you have made a single city
out of what was once a world'.
Rutilius Namatianus c. 410

32. The Centurion’s Song
LEGATE, I had the news last night - my cohort ordered home
By ships to Portus Itius and thence by road to Rome.
I've marched the companies aboard, the arms are stowed
below:
Now let another take my sword. Command me not to go!
I've served in Britain forty years, from Vectis to the Wall,
I have none other home than this, nor any life at all.
Last night I did not understand, but, now the hour draws
near
That calls me to my native land, I feel that land is here.

33. The Centurion’s Song
Legate, I come to you in tears - My cohort ordered
home!
I've served in Britain forty years. What should I do
in Rome?
Here is my heart, my soul, my mind - the only life
I know.
I cannot leave it all behind. Command me not to
go!
Rudyard Kipling

34. Roman Britain to Norman England
Planned for Fall 2012
Based in part on: Great Courses
The Story of Medieval England