Romanization in Britain Through Architecture

This assignment was the final research paper for the course, Fall of Rome. I was required to choose from a selection of final paper prompts and expand the original prompt into a cohesive, well-evidenced argument that draws from the content we studied during class.

In this paper I presented argument that the implementation of Roman architecture into Britain played a large role in the process of Romanization, and the presence of physical Roman spaces enforced Roman cultural values and attitudes onto those living in Romanized spaces. I successfully made use of examples of Roman architecture prove this argument, However, the section of my conclusion where I attempt to prove that the cultural values attached Roman architectural styles have persisted into modernity is not as well-evidenced and introduces a new concept at the end of the essay instead of wrapping up a cohesive narrative. If I could do it again, I would instead use the conclusion to further my original argument and present how the body of my essay is related to my argument in an explicit argument.

This project allowed me to apply my interest in historical architectural styles to critical analysis of Roman politics. I was able to blend both my art historical knowledge as well as my historical knowledge in one argument, showcasing the multidisciplinary nature of the Classics major. This project helped me realize that as a Classics student, I can approach research with multiple point of views and skill sets from different disciplines.