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410
Oct 21, 2009 8:39:01 GMT -1
Post by Tegernacus on Oct 21, 2009 8:39:01 GMT -1
www.410.org.uk/2010 marks the 1600th anniversary of the end of Roman Britain in AD 410 - one of the greatest turning points in our history. What was life on the island like at this critical moment? Was it fire and sword, with barbarian raids, peasant risings, tribal warfare?
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410
Oct 21, 2009 9:07:31 GMT -1
Post by megli on Oct 21, 2009 9:07:31 GMT -1
Depended where you were. If you were on the west coast, raids by irish pirates seeking slaves and booty were common; if you were on the east coast, Germanic speakers were already beginning to settle. If you were a Pict, the western end of your territory was coming under the influence of Ulster Gaelic-speakers.
If you lived in the highland zone of what is now england and wales, you probably spoke British first and Latin as your second language; if you lived in a city or in the lowland zone, you probably spoke Latin first and British as your second language, with the latter of these two groups being higher in power and prestige.
If you lived somewhere around Chelmsford, say, you might well have lived a respectable version of a decently Roman late provincial life: a nice city, baths, theatres, the standard educational system (for well-off boys), quite widespread Christianity. You would have thought of yourself very much as a Roman, and of Latin as your language. (Gildas, a few decades later, calls Latin 'nostra lingua', i.e. the Britons' language, as opposed to the hideous gruntings of the Anglo-Saxons.) But on the whole, I don't expect anyone actually expected the empire to fall at this point.
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410
Oct 21, 2009 9:21:11 GMT -1
Post by Tegernacus on Oct 21, 2009 9:21:11 GMT -1
lol I know, I was just quoting the website blurb
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410
Oct 21, 2009 10:20:47 GMT -1
Post by megli on Oct 21, 2009 10:20:47 GMT -1
Sorry, spot the professional teacher.....
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410
Oct 21, 2009 10:51:01 GMT -1
Post by littleraven on Oct 21, 2009 10:51:01 GMT -1
People called the Romans go the house!
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