Hadrian's Wall is arguably the most important symbol and relic of the Roman presence in Britain, and this new book by Matthew Symonds provides a thoroughly interesting and different perspective to the scholarship surrounding the impact that the Wall has had, not only during its use by the Romans, but in the subsequent centuries, all the way until the modern day.
As part of the Archaeological Histories series, with other books looking at Ur, Dura-Europos and Troy, there is no doubt that this book is not meant to serve solely as an archaeological examination of Hadrian's Wall. This has already been explored in much more detail in countless other volumes regarding Roman Britain, and those looking for a more straightforward and comprehensive history of Hadrian's Wall are better served elsewhere. However, Matthew Symonds is able to provide the reader with a much more general history of the Wall, linking it into the archaeology, and situating the Wall within the context of its wider surroundings. Not only is the Wall important as a standalone structure, but its interaction with the surrounding land and people cannot be ignored, and Symonds adds further weight to the argument of the construction serving as a way to control the flow of people, rather than to prevent it entirely.
Furthermore, Symonds’ discussion of the role of the Wall past the end of the Roman Empire continues exploring the idea of ‘Creating Division’, the part title of the book, which seems to be the overarching theme of the narrative. Parallels are drawn between conflict at the border of Hadrian's Wall and other, more modern, conflicts, providing the reader with the opportunity to reflect on the effectiveness of hard borders at different points in history.
As a teaching resource, this book provides students and teachers alike with a useful and engaging overview of the importance and relevance of Hadrian's Wall. The writing style of the book is supremely accessible, and could be read and enjoyed without significant prior knowledge of Hadrian's Wall. More complex ideas are broken down effectively, with clarifications and explanations provided by the author where necessary. As a result, this makes the book a useful resource for those students and teachers who have studied Classics, as well as for those who are new to the subject and are looking for an introduction to the monument.
In a secondary school, and especially sixth form, classroom setting, this book provides ample opportunity for discussion, and its ability to discuss a Classical topic within a modern context will surely be of interest not only to Classics students, but those studying politics, history, sociology and related subjects. The almost journalistic language used by Symonds is engaging, and would lead students into discussions around source analysis and historical interpretations. Overall, this book would be an asset to any school library.
Open access
