The Romans who shaped Britain

Roman Britain was created not by impersonal historical forces, but by men and women, each driven by ambition, aspiration and passion. The lecture explores the narrative of Britannia through the lives of its emperors, commanders, governors, officials and rebels. This rich cast of characters includes some, such as Caesar, Agricola and Boudica, who may be familiar; and others, such as Carausius and Allectus, who deserve to be more so. Against the backdrop of an evolving landscape, the Romans voice their own opinions and give their own accounts in numerous quotations from ancient sources. By setting out the story as a single narrative, the lecture reminds us of the truly epic nature of the history of Britannia.

About the speakers:

Sam Moorhead is the National Finds Advisor for Iron Age and Roman coins in the Department of Portable Antiquities and Treasure at the British Museum. He was voted Archaeologist of the Year in 2011 by readers of Current Archaeology, and is Honorary Secretary of the Roman Society and a Trustee of the Association for Roman Archaeology. He has published extensively on Roman coins and is co-author with David Stuttard of AD 410, The Year That Shook Rome and 31 BC, Antony, Cleopatra and The Fall of Egypt.

David Stuttard is a freelance writer and currently serves on the Council of the Roman Society.  Having taught classics in Edinburgh, St Andrews and York, he founded the theatre company Actors of Dionysus, which tours productions of Greek drama in his own translations and adaptations. He has edited many books on Greek drama, and is author of Power Games, Ritual and Rivalry in the Ancient Olympics and co-author of two books with Sam Moorhead (see above). He is currently working on a book on the Parthenon for the British Museum.

Admission: By free ticket only, available from yorkfestivalofideas.com/tickets