Title: The end of Roman Britain /
Authors: Jones, Michael E. 1952-
Publisher: Cornell Univerity Press,
Year: 1996
Subjects: Romans Great Britain History.; Anglo-Saxons; Great Britain History; Rome History; Great Britain History Invasions.
Abstract: Britain was never as thoroughly conquered as traditional historians would have us believe, according to Michael E. Jones. Among the provinces long occupied by Rome, Britain retained the slightest imprint of the invading civilization. To explain why this was true, Jones offers a lucid and thorough analysis of the economic, social, military, and environmental problems that contributed to the failure of the Romans. Drawing on literary sources and on recent archaeological evidence, Jones disputes the theory that the Anglo-Saxon invasions were the determining agent in the failure of Romanitas. He argues instead that the success of the new warriors was a symptom of the inherent weakness of Romano-British society. Problems late in the era may have been worsened significantly by changes in the natural environment, such as climatic deterioration associated with harvest failure, famine, and changes in migration patterns.
Contents: 1. Population and the Anglo-Saxon Invasions: The Archaeological Evidence -- 2. The Scale of the Adventus: The Literary Evidence -- 3. The Anglo-Saxon Invasions -- 4. Romano-British Attitudes: Romanitas and the Vision of the Roman Past -- 5. The Roman Provinces of Britain -- 6. The Environment and the End of Roman Britain -- 7. Epilogue and Conclusion: The Fall, A.D. 406-410 -- Appendix 1: Population of the Roman Empire -- Appendix 2: Roman Provincial Population in Europe -- Appendix 3: Barbarian Tribal Population -- Appendix 4: The Historia Brittonum.