Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 1 on 5/3/2002.

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Roman holiday

James Irvine Robertson asks the searching question: 'What have the Romans ever done for us?'

The Romans are unique. In the history of mankind no other people have ever been so in advance of their contemporaries that they were able to conquer the known world. From their Mediterranean isthmus, thanks to their astonishing organisation and administration, they created a tightly-controlled empire covering most of Europe, northern Africa and Asia Minor which lasted half a millennium. Then it imploded and vanished.

In the colonial wars of the 19th century, European troops exterminated savage armies. Firearms scythed through the natives of Africa and the Americas, often killing a hundred for every one of their own. The armies of Rome had the same unstoppable impact. Their discipline and technology of war laid waste to enemy territories and, within their legion-guarded frontiers, conquered tribes enjoyed a peace and prosperity they would not see again for over a thousand years.

But not in Scotland. The Roman occupation of most of England lasted nearly four centuries but they never conquered the Picts and Caledonians. Under the Emperor Claudius, the legions invaded Kent in 44 AD and it took 40 years for them to work their way up the island to the mountains, bogs and moors of the north. York was the frontier town. Beyond that pacification rather than civilisation was the best the Romans could achieve. At various times southern Scotland was subjected to military occupation and other tribes were under treaty obligations to keep the peace but the invaders’ hold on these lands .....

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By James Irvine Robertson

Section : Scottish History

Page number : 38