Rome's Saxon Shore: Coastal Defences of Roman Britain AD 250-500 (Fortress)
by Nic Fields
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Book Summary Information
Author: Nic FieldsIllustrator: Donato Spedaliere
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-12-26
ISBN: 1846030943
Number of pages: 64
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Book Reviews of Rome's Saxon Shore: Coastal Defences of Roman Britain AD 250-500 (Fortress)
Book Review: Purpose and form
Summary: 5 Stars
A mark in britains landscape, the roman forts of the dominate period are truly impressive. Massive and with several technological defensive advances, clearly those fortresses show an huge diference on former roman fortifications. The political changes that led to the defensive architecture modifications and improvements are also a subject that Nic Fields explains clearly and convincingly.
The purposes of these fortifications are also an important subject of the debate, as anti-piratical raids, fortified ports, political strongholds, garrison for troops on the move and even fortifications against Imperial power...there are many theories that are clearly presented and analysed.
Other interesting features of this small book are a fort by fort description of all the fortifications of the limes Saxonici (and also how are the sites today), a political overview of the more stressful periods lived in Britannia during the 3rd to 6th century, detailed descriptions of the types of walls and their method of construction (includind cut-in lateral views and detailed photographs of some walls), also the differences between the internal buildings of these forts and those of earlier periods (e.g. in the dominate the bathhouses were inside the enceinte) among several other topics.
All this complemented with competent illustrations from Donato Spedaliere, several photographs, Glossary, Bibliography and the interesting, clear and informative writing style of Nic Fields.
Summary of Rome's Saxon Shore: Coastal Defences of Roman Britain AD 250-500 (Fortress)
Although the exact dates of construction of the so-called Saxon Shore forts are uncertain, the development of the frontier system that ran form the Wash to the Solent on the south-east coast of Roman Britain was spread over at least a century and a half. Many of the new forts were notable for the superior strength of their defences, with thicker stone walls bristling with projecting curved bastions. These and other features were clearly designed to them more difficult to storm than old-style frontier forts with their classic playing-card shape and internal towers. Defense earlier in the Roman era had meant aggressive response in the open field or even offensive pre-emptive strikes into enemy territory. The new trend was to build stronger, the emphasis being on solid, more static defense, anticipating attack and absorbing it rather than going out to meet it. Most of the major harbours and estuaries of the east and south-east coasts of Britain were fortified in this manner. There was a similar series of military installations across the Channel in Gaul, extending along the northern coast as far as what is now Brittany.Whatever their precise tactical and strategic function, a continuing debate to which this book contributes, the construction of these stone forts represented a huge outlay of money, and commitment of manpower and materials. The Saxon Shore Forts are among the most impressive surviving monuments of Roman Britain. This book addresses a number ofthe fascinating questions they provoke - Who built these Forts? When and for what purposes? How were they built? How did they operate? Who garrisoned them, and for how long?
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