Author: David John Breeze
Publisher: B. T. Batsford Limited
Published: 1996
Total Pages: 144
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →The Romans tried to conquer Scotland three times 2000 years ago. These forays have left their mark, which can still be seen in the form of earthworks - the remains of forts and frontiers constructed by the army. This study shows the effect of these periods of occupation on Scotland and its people.
Author: Charles River
Publisher:
Published: 2020-11-23
Total Pages: 104
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →*Includes pictures *Includes excerpts of ancient accounts *Includes a bibliography for further reading "[The Romans] thinking that it might be some help to the allies [Britons], whom they were forced to abandon, constructed a strong stone wall from sea to sea, in a straight line between the towns that had been there built for fear of the enemy, where Severus also had formerly built a rampart." - Bede's description of Hadrian's Wall in the Middle Ages Over 1,100 years before William the Conqueror became the King of England after the Battle of Hastings, Julius Caesar came, saw, and conquered part of "Britannia," setting up a Roman province with a puppet king in 54 BCE. In the new province, the Romans eventually constructed a military outpost overlooking a bridge across the River Thames. The new outpost was named Londinium, and it covered just over two dozen acres. The Romans were master builders, and much of what they built has stood the test of time. Throughout their vast empire they have left grand structures, from the Forum and Pantheon in Rome to the theatres and hippodromes of North Africa and the triumphal gates in Anatolia and France. Wherever they went, the Romans built imposing structures to show their power and ability, and one of their most impressive constructions was built on the northernmost fringe of the empire. Shortly after Emperor Hadrian came to power in the early 2nd century CE, he decided to seal off Scotland from Roman Britain with an ambitious wall stretching from sea to sea. To accomplish this, the wall had to be built from the mouth of the River Tyne - where Newcastle stands today - 80 Roman miles (76 miles or 122 kilometers) west to Bowness-on-Solway. The sheer scale of the job still impresses people today, and Hadrian's Wall has the advantage of being systematically studied and partially restored. Of course, the masterful architecture of the wall belied the fact that it was built for defense, because Scotland (known as Caledonia to the Romans) was never fully conquered or incorporated into the Roman Empire, a fact that many modern Scots remain quite proud of today. While the Romans made several efforts to subdue Scotland, it is not entirely clear whether their failure to complete the subjugation of the northern part of the British Isles was due to the ferocity of the Caledonian/Pictish tribesmen or whether the Romans simply came to the conclusion that the region had far too little to offer in the way of resources (either minerals, metals, or slaves) to warrant repeated major campaigns. Scotland in the 1st century CE had no settlements of any size, so profitable trade was not easy to establish, and so, did not offer any major motivation for military conquest. A further disincentive to any Roman general looking to achieve a decisive or speedy military victory was the terrain. Unlike much of England which, although forested, was relatively flat and so allowed for roads to be built, Scotland was both wooded and mountainous. Scotland today, as then, is essentially divided into four distinct regions. What is now known as the Borders was during the time of the Romans densely wooded, and the Southern Uplands added to the obstacles faced by any military force moving into the area. The second area, the Lowlands, was crisscrossed by a number of major rivers, including the Clyde, the Forth and the Tay. These permanent geographical features made north-to-south travel especially problematic. The areas around the rivers were also marshy, making any building extra difficult and risky. The Highlands, as the region's name suggests, is mountainous, and travel was restricted to the few mountain passes through the glens. These glens were ideal places for ambushes, which is something the Romans learned the hard way.
Author: Simon Forder
Publisher: Amberley Publishing Limited
Published: 2019-08-15
Total Pages: 339
ISBN-13: 144569056X
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Explore the battle at the edge of the world: did the Romans defeat 50,000 warriors and if so, where?
Author: Rebecca H. Jones
Publisher:
Published: 2011
Total Pages: 408
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Scotland contains a wealth of Roman camps and this book is a companion volume to earlier publications of camps in England and Wales. As the northern frontier zone of Britain subject to repeated campaigns by the Roman army the area possesses a wide and fascinating range of camp sites recorded both as earthwork remains and through cropmarkings from the air. The field evidence is discussed against the background of Roman army campaigns with each of the camps described and illustrated in a detailed gazetteer. The book is illustrated throughout with plans maps and photographs and will be of interest to all those who wish to know more about the archaeology of the Roman army its campaigns in northern Britain and the ancient military mind.
Author: John Richardson
Publisher: Lulu.com
Published: 2019-01-28
Total Pages: 108
ISBN-13: 0244502935
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →With the coming of the Roman General Gaius Julius Caesar to Britain in both 55BC and 54BC, life changed forever for the tribes inhabiting the British islands. Emperor of Rome Antoninius Pius succeeded Emperor Hadrian on his death in AD 138. It was Antoninius who gave orders for the Roman Army to march into Scotland. Under his instructions the new Roman frontier was built: The Antonine Wall in Scotland. The Antonine Guard belong to a History Society driven to inform on Scotland's ancient history. The Sixth Legion stood as example and source for research for the modern Antonine Guard. A founder member of this Society, John S. Richardson grew up with a fascination for civilizations of the past and has a lifelong interest in the history of Egypt, Greece and Rome. This book he wrote especially for you.
Author: Gordon S. Maxwell
Publisher: Mercat Press Books
Published: 1989
Total Pages: 240
ISBN-13:
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Author: O. G. S. Crawford
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2011-06-30
Total Pages: 207
ISBN-13: 1107684730
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →This 1949 book provides an illustrated description of all the Roman remains in Scotland north of the Antonine Wall (i.e. the Forth-Clyde line). It contains an introductory chapter describing the various antiquities in the course of the journey, and methods of identification on the ground and from the air.
Author: Barry Cunliffe
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 2004-08-02
Total Pages: 1016
ISBN-13: 1134277237
DOWNLOAD EBOOK →Since its first publication in 1971, Barry Cunliffe's monumental survey has established itself as a classic of British archaeology. This fully revised fourth edition maintains the qualities of the earlier editions, whilst taking into account the significant developments that have moulded the discipline in recent years. Barry Cunliffe here incorporates new theoretical approaches, technological advances and a range of new sites and finds, ensuring that Iron Age Communities in Britain remains the definitive guide to the subject.