Boudicca


Book Description

Boudicca (Boadicea), Leader of the Iceni, is synonymous with rebellion and feminine strength, yet what we know of her is often far removed from the time in which she lived and the early authors who first wrote about her. In this new study, Marguerite Johnson returns to the original sources and interrogates them in order to unearth what the ancients thought of this most enigmatic heroine of British freedom. After a concise overview of Boudicca and the British rebellion against Rome, she turns to the writings of Tacitus and Dio and provides an in-depth analysis of their views on Boudicca and her people. These readings, which form the centrepiece of the book, are followed by an insightful series of readings of Boudicca post-antiquity, including the scant references to her in the writings that emerged after the fall of the Roman Empire to the most modern re-workings of this most fascinating of historical icons.




Boudicca‘s Vengeance


Book Description

There have been many books written, and much research carried out, about this Queen, who is so well revered by this country, and held up as a figure to be admired and remembered for all time, that she has a statue in her honour in Westminster, London. Boudicca had her kingdom cruelly taken from her by the occupying Roman forces, when her husband died. We have a few paragraphs, written by a Roman, named ‘Tacitus’ which tells us how Boudicca was invited to a meeting with the Romans, which she thought was to welcome her as the Queen of the Iceni. She did not receive the hospitality she expected, and the treatment that she, and her daughters received, are believed to be the trigger for what happened next. The Romans under-estimated the strength and grit of Boudicca and the fanatical support of her people, and came to regret their actions. The book tells the story of Boudicca’s campaign to reclaim her kingdom. Written to inform the reader about the way of life of the ancient Britons, it tells how the occupying Roman forces ruled them. How Boudicca inspired her tribesmen and led them in a campaign that saw the destruction of Colchester, London and St Albans.




Kings and Queens of Early Britain


Book Description

Geoffrey Ashe skillfully weaves all the different accounts, legends, literature, historical documents into one continuous narrative that recreates in intriguing detail all the rulers and events, real or mythical, that are part of the rich tapestry of early history in Britain.




A Dictionary of British and Irish History


Book Description

An authoritative and extensive resource for British and Irish history Quickly access basic information on the history of the British Isles from this reliable resource. A Dictionary of British and Irish History provides concise information covering all periods of prehistory and history for every part of the British Isles. Within this one book, you’ll find summary accounts of events, biographies, definitions of terms, and far more. Using alphabetically organized headwords, readers will easily locate the content and details they seek. A Dictionary of British and Irish History not only serves as a reference tool, but also stimulates broader learning. Entries are interrelated and cross-referenced to help you expand your knowledge of different areas of history. Discover comparable entries on England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales See overviews of major topics and historical events Get facts instantly or browse entries Use the Dictionary as an information source or a launch point for expanding knowledge This reference book will become an essential resource for students of British and Irish history as well as for professionals, journalists, teachers, and those who use historical information in their work. Further, anyone wanting to establish the basics of the history of the British Isles will find this a valuable addition to their library.




Warrior Queens


Book Description

In this panoramic work of history, Lady Antonia Fraser looks at women who led armies and empires: Cleopatra, Isabella of Spain, Jinga Mbandi, Margaret Thatcher, and Indira Gandhi, among others.




A Chronology of the Roman Empire


Book Description

A Chronology of the Roman Empire provides a complete and comprehensive chronological reference for the entire Roman state and its neighbours. Following opening discussion of the ancient sources and the myth of the foundation of Rome, the events of each year to the fall of the last emperor in 476 are covered in detail, including listings of the elected consuls and major battles as well as political and social events. All material is derived from original sources. The introduction considers key historiographical questions and concerns of the period. Professor John Drinkwater considers the importance of questioning sources, most notably Livy, and what can be said with any authority. He places the period in its historical, political and cultural context and challenges some of the scholarship to date. This is a complete resource and indispensable tool for anyone studying the Roman Empire.




The Romanization of Britain


Book Description

This book sets out to provide a new synthesis of recent archaeological work in Roman Britain.




Travel and Geography in the Roman Empire


Book Description

The remains of Roman roads are a powerful reminder of the travel and communications system that was needed to rule a vast and diverse empire. Yet few people have questioned just how the Romans - both military and civilians - travelled, or examined their geographical understanding in an era which offered a greatly increased potential for moving around, and a much bigger choice of destinations. This volume provides new perspectives on these issues, and some controversial arguments; for instance, that travel was not limited to the elite, and that maps as we know them did not exist in the empire. The military importance of transport and communication networks is also a focus, as is the imperial post system (cursus publicus), and the logistics and significance of transport in both conquest and administration. With more than forty photographs, maps and illustrations, this collection provides a new understanding of the role and importance of travel, and of the nature of geographical knowledge, in the Roman world,




Ruling Roman Britain


Book Description

In this book, David Braund offers a significantly different perspective upon the history of Roman Britain. He concentrates upon the literary evidence, which has been studied to a lesser extent than archaeology in recent years. Close attention to the Greek and Roman sources enables the construction of a new approach to Roman Britain, its history and its archaeology. For the first time, monarchy is identified as a key issue in the history of Roman Britain.




The History of Honley


Book Description