BRITAIN COMPARISON

Examples of Cities in Britain Contrasted to Cities in Western Provinces of the Roman Period

Examples of Cities in Britain Contrasted to Cities in Western Provinces of the Roman Period

Introduction

This essay briefly covers the prehistoric archaeology of Britain with the examples of some of the cities in Britain and other Western provinces of the Roman period. This essay briefly covers the change that occurred in British cities after the Roman Empire, the general introduction of the British cities and then it states the primary excavation reports. Moreover, this essay provides a brief overview of the contrasting areas within the cities of Britain and Western provinces. It also sums up the similarities between the cities of Britain and the Western Europe. The cities selected from Britain are Verulamium, Colchester, Cirencester, and Gloucester and from Western Provinces are Gaul and Hispania

Discussion

During the Roman period, the important ports in Britain were London and Richborough. The continental trade in Britain was primarily across southern North Sea and Eastern Channel. There were some narrow links found via Atlantic seaways, during the early roman period in Britain. The major imports to Britain, during the Roman era were coins, red-gloss pottery, olive oil, wine, salted fish products and also some agricultural products from eastern, southern and central Gaul, western Mediterranean, southern Spain and the Rhine provinces. Britain's major exports included metals such as gold, silver, some lead, copper and iron. However, there are not many facts about Britain's exports in early Roman era but probably they also included enormous quantities of coins that were re-exported. These products were a result of private trade through contracts and payments made by the Roman state to afford funding for its military forces on the island. During the 3rd century, these payments were unbalanced with the number of products sent to Britain, which were far more. Evidence reveals that during the mid-3rd century AD no more products were imported to Britain. However, some theories reveal the fact that huge quantities coins were still imported. (Fulford, M. G. 2007, pg. 54-57)

Early Modern Britain is the term used for explaining the history of the island of Great Britain. It covers 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The English Renaissance, the English Reformation, the English civil war, Scottish Reformation, the Treaty of Union and the formation of the First British Empire are the chief historical events attach to the history of Great Britain. (Pearson, A. F. 2002. n.d.)

We shall now discuss the towns/cities of Britain and their differences with the towns/cities of Western provinces of The Roman Empire. For the cities in Western Provinces of the Roman Empire, there is not much literature available to gain insight of the urabn life in the cities of Western provinces. However, archeological explorations from the excavation of the cities have extended research to the rare levels. The following cities of Britain are the best to look at their development over time during the Roman Empire: Verulamium, Colchester, Cirencester and Gloucester.

Alban (Verulamium)

Verulamium existed in Roman Britain as ...