'Elective Affinity' and the Iron Fist of Imperialism: Responses in Britain to the advent of Rome

In line with broad trends in the study of the Roman phenomenon, the examination of Rome's influence upon and subsequent conquest of much of Britain has undergone shifts in views and comprehension in recent decades. In apart this is a matter of how Roman imperialism was viewed in philosophy and practice. Continuities with some structures and forms of the proceeding Iron Age could be identified but how they should be interpreted became a matter of much debate. Recognition of the extractive and draconian nature of modern imperialisms also came to be influential in recent thinking: and from this perspective Roman Britain would pay for the honour of being a part of the empire. More commonly agreed amongst scholars is, above all, the diversity in regional experiences, in settlements, and material expression across the Roman province; the heterogeneity of impact and response. All this makes the study of Britain during the Roman era more fascinating and demanding of attention than had hitherto been realized.