Britain A.D.

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[edit] General Information

History Documentary published by Channel 4 in 2004 - English narration

[edit] Cover

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Sheep-farming archaeologist, Francis Pryor, presents a brand new historical series, which explores Britain A.D, the British national character and the ultimate British icon King Arthur. Finding new and previously unexplained evidence, Francis Pryor overturns the idea that Britain 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. By scrutinising the myth of King Arthur to find out what was really going on when the Romans left, Francis is confronted by evidence that confounds traditional views of the 'Dark ages'. Nor was there an invasion of bloodthirsty Anglo Saxons, rampaging across the countryside. With new archaeological evidence Francis discovers a far more interesting story.

[edit] Part 1

In the first programme of the series he 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.

[edit] Part 2

In the second programme of the series, Francis sheds light on the so-called 'Dark Ages'. He shows that far from a 'Dark Age' archaeologists are discovered evidence of a resurgence of native culture. The classic image of the Romans departing and 'turning out the lights' is shown to be completely false. Francis finds a world inhabited by Christianised, literate Britons engaging in trade and diplomacy with the Byzantine Empire. So far reaching are the implications of these discoveries that the 'dark age' period in Britain has been renamed Late Antiquity.

[edit] Part 3

Writer and archaeologist Francis Pryor continues to challenge our perception of early post-Roman Britain, concluding the series with the impact of the Anglo-Saxon invasion. It was thought that political change in Britain took place as a result of this event, but Pryor argues that shifting allegiances were already taking place before the foreigners arrived.