The "British-ization" of Roman Britain

PRESENTATION The "British-ization" of Roman Britain: A Post-Colonial Interpretation Berkeley-Oxford Program Merton College 6 August 2015 © Steven A. Williams Spring, 2022 © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture The Romanization of Britain Definition (OED) "1a. To make Roman in character; to bring under the influence or authority of (usually ancient) Rome." "1b. To follow or imitate ancient Roman custom or practice; (occas.) to accept the principles of Roman law." Per Historians/Archeologists - Process by which the occupying Romans pass on their culture and institutions to the indigenous Britons during the years of official Roman administration (AD 43 - AD 410). Per The Romans - Called this Romanitas. © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture Romanization - Range of Viewpoints 1. The Scholarly Consensus Romans were keen on passing their culture onto to the indigenous inhabitants, as is evidenced by the presence of urbanized centers (villas, towns, civitates), road systems, architecture, political and agricultural institutions (See Frere, 1987; Salway, 1981; Hill and Ireland, 1996; Millett, 1992; et alia). 2. The Minority Opinion Only a small indigenous elite (~ 10%) actually absorbs some, if any, long-lasting Roman cultural influence; Local British tribal identities and rivalries prevail though "cloaked" under a Roman administration Since the native population fails to adopt Latin as their language, there is no "romanization" (Jones, 1987; Russell & Laycock, 2010) © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture Romanization - Range of Viewpoints 3. More Radical Viewpoints - Term is not useful - assumes a homogenous "Roman culture" - ignores significant regional variations, i.e. Rome, Gallic-Roman, etc. cultures - ignores changes in romanitas during ~500 years (55 BCE - 410 CE) (Janet Huskinson, in Salway, 2002; Guy de la Bédoyère, 2010). - Janet Huskinson does argue that it can be a "useful entry point" in understanding the cultural dynamics of Roman Britain (in Salway, 2002. p.108) © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture "Romanization" - Word Origins - From the verb, "to romanize" - After Middle French romanizer (French romaniser ) - - 1566 in Middle French (isolated instance only) After Medieval Latin romanizare - to speak a Romance language (12th cent) Meaning is originally limited to linguistic context (speaking or writing) © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture Romanization - Our Meaning "Process by which the occupying Romans pass on their culture and institutions to the indigenous Britons during the years of official Roman administration (AD 43 AD 410)" - 1790 T. Pennant Of London 8: "Long before this period, it [sc. London] was fully romanized." - 1863 Edinb. Rev. 66: "The wide territory to the south of the wall of Severus..was thoroughly Romanized" - 1874 W. Stubbs Constit. Hist. I. i. 8 "Both Franks and Visigoths had become Romanised." What is significant about these dates? © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture AGE OF IMPERIAL BRITAIN (Not that there's anything wrong with that!) - Industrial Revolution - Age of "Discoveries" - Imperial Expansion - "The sun never sets on the British Empire" "Romanization" reflects a colonial, top-down perspective of that age. © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture British-ization ("Yet another crackpot theory?") To what extent, if any, did the indigenous cultures of the British chiefdoms influence the colonizers? Hypothesis: Probably a lot more than we realize © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture PROOF: - By analogy: During the age of the Indian Raj, the British civil servant, wearing in his pajamas, sits out on his verandah sipping tea feeling gung-ho about tomorrow's assignment ("By Jove, he's gone native!" - not that there's anything wrong with that!) - By inductive generalization: Re- examine the historical and archeological evidence for the indigenous British influence - not much historical (no written documents) - lots of archeology, especially since 1980s © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture Late Pre-Roman Iron Age (LPRIA) Art in Britain La Tène (500 BCE - 1 BCE) - Name of a village at the Northeastern end of Lake Neuchâtel, Switzerland, where remains of this culture were first discovered in 1857 - "of, relating to, or belonging to a culture (lasting from the 5th to the 1st cent. B.c.) of the second Iron Age of central and western Europe, and the style of art associated with it." (OED) - "Celtic" Art? - Describes the geography - not the people - where this art was discovered - Describes the style - not the people - of this art © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture La Tène: Style Characteristics - "abstract" - it suggests, rather than represents, objects found in nature. - combines a variety of familiar curvilinear line pattern motifs in highly creative ways. - Spiral: - Triskelion: (or triskele): a three-legged spiral - Roundel: a circular disc, sometimes incorporated into a spiral - Tendril: a threadlike leafless vine, usually curving into a spiral. a curve that starts from a central point and moves progressively farther away as it revolves around the center. - When yoked together, these patterns form animal heads, fleshy leaves, plant vines, etc., - La Tene art has a vegetal and/or zoomorphic quality. - From certain perspectives, human forms might be seen. © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture Decorated Bronze Mirror (50 BCE - 50 CE), Desborough, Northamptonshire, Eng. © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture Decorated Bronze Mirror, 50 BCE - 50 CE; Aston, Hertsfords., England © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture The Wandsworth Shield, 350 BCE - 150 BCE; Votive Deposit, Thames River © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture La Tene Art - Decorative - Metalwork only: - Possible other work in wood, leather, etc - Does not survive into the archeological record - No mosaics; no painting; no statues - Portable - Finds: votive deposits; grave goods - No true human figural art (portraits) © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture Roman Art in the Age of Augustus - Monumental and stationary - Materials: - Quarried marble - Tiled Mosaics - Wall Painting - Metal - "Mimetic" - aims to imitate - at times, improve upon - forms in nature - Uses Greek and Hellenistic models - Portraiture - statues, painting, mosaics, etc - Public display of status and power © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture ROMAN IMPERIAL ARTWORK Bronze head - Emperor Claudius Roman Britain, 1st century AD River Alde at Rendham, Suffolk © Steven A Williams Ara Pacis Augustae Rome, 9 BC April 2022 Aedicula & landscape Boscotrecase Villa 1st century B. C. Romano-British Culture BRITO-ROMAN ART (?) Bronze model of a human head Iron Age, about 50-20 BC Welwyn, Herts., England © Steven A Williams Mosaic of Oceanus Roman Verulamium AD 160-90 St. Albans, Herts., England April 2022 The "Gorgon" Head Temple of Sulis Minerva (late 2nd C. AD) Bath, Somerset, England Romano-British Culture BRITO - ROMANO ART (?) Arion Riding the Dolphin Mosaic Ostia Antica, 1st c. BC © Steven A Williams Cupid Riding the Dolphin Fishbourne Roman Palace Mid-2nd century, AD April 2022 Romano-British Culture BRITO-ROMANO ART (?) Rudston Venus Late 3rd Century, AD Rudston, East Yorkshire © Steven A Williams Sheela Na' Gig St. Seiriol's Church Penmon, Anglesey, Wales April 2022 "Bleeding" Yew Tree outside St. Brynach's Church Nevern, Pembrokeshire, Wales Romano-British Culture BRITO-ROMANO ART (?) Staffordshire-Moorsland Pan © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture BRITO-ROMANO ART (?) © Steven A Williams April 2022 Romano-British Culture BRITO-ROMANO ART "Fusion" - Celtic & Classical Styles © Steven A Williams April 2022 ➜ Distinctive Insular style Romano-British Culture