Britain AD Episode 1

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A series of three one hour programmes, presented by leading archaeologist and sheep-farmer Francis Pryo, re-examine Britain A.D, the Arthurian myth, the British national character and the mysterious period of British history known as 'The Dark Ages'. Finding new and previously unexplained evidence Francis Pryor overturns the idea that Britain was crushed under Roman rule, then reverted to a state of anarchy and disorder after the Romans left in 410 AD. Instead of doom and gloom Francis discovers a continuous culture that assimilated influences from as far a field as the Middle East and Constantinople. Francis is confronted by evidence that confounds traditional views of Britain as a powerless bunch or warring barbarian tribes. Nor was there the invasion of bloodthirsty Anglo Saxons, rampaging across the countryside, which our school books have always depicted. With new archaeological evidence Francis discovers a far more interesting and complex story, one that puts the continuing energy of the Ancient Britons at the core. According to conventional wisdom, native British culture was suppressed by 400 years of Roman rule, and the withdrawal of the mighty imperial army in 410AD threw the country into a state of primitive barbarism, which only came to an end with the invasion of the more advanced Anglo Saxons. With detailed archaeology, cutting-edge academic research and his own brand of iconoclasm, writer and broadcaster, and presenter of Britain AD, Francis Pryor argues that we've got this version of British history wrong. Francis shows how archaeologists are beginning to reveal that the early history of Britain was in fact a vibrant period in which the population thrived from a series of foreign influences from as far afield as the Middle East and Constantinople without losing its own cultural identity. In the first episode Francis tells the story of Roman Britain from the perspective of the native Britons rather than the conquering army, and reveals that the invasion was not a brutal suppression of indigenous culture, but a mutually beneficial experience which the Britons may have actually instigated.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Britain
• history
• documentary
• documentaries
• Pryor
• medieval
• Medieval
• middle
• ages
• King
• Arthur

[lovelplants]

wow.. i love they way they explained the history of britain.. :)

[dorianleakey]

I did not like this one bit as it takes an extremist view and 3 programmes to explain something that could take half an hour because of providing archeological evidence thats often not really relevant, for instance, the fact hill forts were reused after the collapse of the Roman empire does not suggest there was no Saxon Invasion, nor does a Roman style house being built at the time. Also if Saxon culture was so appealing why did those in the west reject it.

[dorianleakey]

@TitusUSA10 beautiful, yes, and wet. Very very wet.

[Paelignus]

What happened to the ENTIRE Angles, Saxons, and Jutes scenario altogether?????!!!!! HELLO!!!!! This guy is really something else.

[MrDirkkirk]

Spellcheck is easy to use. Then perhaps we would be able to understand what you are trying to say.

[TitusUSA10]

@sheriwhispers thank you i did not know that fact. I love people who appreciate history

[sheriwhispers]

@TitusUSA10 What I find impossible to believe is that this guy leaves out just how an why Constantine even form Catholicism. This guys attitude toward the history of the isle leaves alot to be desired he defiantly has a point he wants to prove. One cannot deny Romes influence on the world then as well as now..Constantine had a problem trying to solve deputes between the pagans an the then Christians who actually had no form of religion until he mandated his type of Christianity the Catholics..

[TitusUSA10]

The Uk is beautiful. I would love to live there

[TitusUSA10]

@unionlanding i know right. It plays a major role

[unionlanding]

Why was the part about Christianity cut out??