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Visiting Roman Britain: Hadrian's Wall and Beyond with Dr. Alan Montgomery
Learn with Alan Montgomery

Visiting Roman Britain: Hadrian's Wall and Beyond with Dr. Alan Montgomery

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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

For almost four centuries, much of the British Isles were ruled by the mighty Roman Empire. The Roman province known as Britannia stretched from the south coast of England to Hadrian’s Wall, and for a brief time into what is now Scotland. Despite some violent resistance from the locals, the Roman way of life was introduced to Britain, with many indigenous Britons taking on a Roman lifestyle. Although the Romans would finally leave around 410AD, much of what they built survives – the incredible ruins of Roman Britain, including towns, villas, forts and, of course, the famous walls, can still be visited today. Join a local historian for a virtual tour around the best Roman sites in Britain, examining the country's finest Roman monuments and discussing what they reveal about life in ancient Britannia.
This conversation will feature a selection of the best Roman monuments in Britain, places which offer a unique glimpse of life in ancient Britannia and reveal much about Roman imperial ambitions. Ranging from Sussex to northern Scotland, the sites will include temples, amphitheatres and the all-important Roman baths, all evidence of the ‘Romanization’ which took place across the province. In the south, it is possible to visit towns and villas, luxurious homes which were decorated with fine mosaics and wall paintings. Moving further north, we will explore some of the major military installations that were established to control or protect ancient Rome’s most northerly frontier.
Led by Alan Montgomery, a historian who has researched both the history of Roman Britain and its more recent rediscovery, this interactive seminar will describe some of Britain’s most important archaeological sites and examine what they tell us about life in Roman Britannia. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an insight into one of the most fascinating periods of British history, an era that has inspired and fascinated generations of visitors, historians and archaeologists.

Alan Montgomery was born and raised in Scotland but has spent most of his adult life in London. Having achieved an MA in Art History at Glasgow University, he worked for many years in the art world at both an international auction house and an antique dealer. In recent years he has returned to academia, achieving an MA in Classical Civilisation in 2011, and has recently completed a Ph.D. in which he analyzed eighteenth-century attitudes towards the ancient Roman world. In addition to his work for Context Travel, Alan also writes catalog essays on Contemporary Art for a leading auctioneer. Elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 2017, his first book, entitled 'Classical Caledonia', was published by Edinburgh University Press in August 2020.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 24 reviews
88%
(21)
8%
(2)
0%
(0)
4%
(1)
0%
(0)
K
Karen Clark (Midland, US)
Adding to My Must-See List

Dr. Montgomery, always an engaging speaker, shared with participants many reminders of Roman Britain. Walls, villas, roads, and baths left from the Roman occupation can be found in many places across Britain if you just know where to look. And now we do!

R
Rhoda, Silver Spring MD (Silver Spring, US)
First lecture with Alan, won't be the last!

Alan provided wonderful overview of some Roman Britain sights. He's very knowledgeable and enthusiastic: definitely inspires one to visit!

L
Louis Mazzari (New York, US)

A great sense of the scope and achievements of Roman Britain, in terms of both the history and of what remains to visit.

S
S.S. (Oxford, US)
Hadrians Wall

Dr. alan Montgomery is always a favorite as he speaks so interestingly of his subjects. I loved to see the villas built by the Romans and the mosaic floors were spectacular. . studying the wall and what it might have looked like and the antonine wall in Scotland

S
S. (Minneapolis, US)
loved this program!

Lovely photos of several Roman sites, beautiful mosaics and both walls built by the Romans in Scotland.

123

Customer Reviews

Based on 24 reviews
88%
(21)
8%
(2)
0%
(0)
4%
(1)
0%
(0)
K
Karen Clark (Midland, US)
Adding to My Must-See List

Dr. Montgomery, always an engaging speaker, shared with participants many reminders of Roman Britain. Walls, villas, roads, and baths left from the Roman occupation can be found in many places across Britain if you just know where to look. And now we do!

R
Rhoda, Silver Spring MD (Silver Spring, US)
First lecture with Alan, won't be the last!

Alan provided wonderful overview of some Roman Britain sights. He's very knowledgeable and enthusiastic: definitely inspires one to visit!

L
Louis Mazzari (New York, US)

A great sense of the scope and achievements of Roman Britain, in terms of both the history and of what remains to visit.

S
S.S. (Oxford, US)
Hadrians Wall

Dr. alan Montgomery is always a favorite as he speaks so interestingly of his subjects. I loved to see the villas built by the Romans and the mosaic floors were spectacular. . studying the wall and what it might have looked like and the antonine wall in Scotland

S
S. (Minneapolis, US)
loved this program!

Lovely photos of several Roman sites, beautiful mosaics and both walls built by the Romans in Scotland.

123