The Fall of Roman Britain
About this episode
This episode explores the final centuries of Roman Britain and its legacy.
Celebrating the extraordinary Roman legacy that continues to shape Britain. In this episode, Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams explore the final centuries of Roman Britain, from the construction of Hadrian’s ( Game of Thrones style) Wall to the collapse of imperial control in AD 410. As Roman rule matured, Britain became one of the empire’s most important frontier provinces. Emperors came in person, vast engineering projects reshaped the landscape, and Roman military life became embedded in British soil. The episode visits Hadrian’s Wall, the frontier fort of Vindolanda, and Roman York, where emperors ruled, died, and made history. But beyond the frontier, pressure never ceased. Northern tribes remained resistant, overseas raiders sensed weakness, and Rome itself came under increasing attack. As the empire began to fracture, Britain’s garrisons were gradually withdrawn, leaving the province exposed. From birthday invitations written by Roman women in Northumberland to the moment Britain was effectively told to fend for itself, this is the story of how Roman Britain reached its height and how one of history’s greatest empires finally let it go. Hosts: Robert Hardman and…
People in this episode
Hosts: Robert Hardman, Professor Kate Williams
Topics covered
- Roman Britain
- history
- empire
- military life
- cultural legacy
Keywords
- Roman Britain
- Hadrian's Wall
- Vindolanda
- Roman York
- empire collapse
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Daily Mail
Places: Hadrian’s Wall, Vindolanda, Roman York
More episodes of Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things
- The Death of Queen Cleopatra
- Queen Cleopatra: Her Rise to Power
- Boudicca: Britain's Warrior Queen
- Julius Caesar's British Invasions
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