Date of Award
8-1985
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
History
First Advisor
Dr. Paul Maier
Second Advisor
Dr. H. Nicholas Hamner
Third Advisor
Dr. Robert Hahn
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
The third century A.D. marked a period of growth on Roman urbanization in northern Britain, while in the rest of the empire towns and cities were being abandoned. Although this growth of urban centers brought peace and prosperity to a once troubled area, there is no written record that documents this success. Ancient authors considered Britain a rebellious province and unsafe to visit, thus limiting the information they recorded. The second century provides sufficient written information to describe the growing change of the north from a military province, but the archaeological information dated to the third century is needed to describe the urbanization and stability that developed throughout the north.
The third-century historical record still contains many caveats, but in norther Britain most of the period is still void. Focusing on York as the center of Roman achievement, this paper will combine the second-century histories with the third-century archaeological remains to describe the radiating political and urban accomplishments in the northern province of Britannia Inferior.
Recommended Citation
Coates, Brent L., "Third Century Urbanization in Northern Britain" (1985). Masters Theses. 1375.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1375