Carlisle charts the city's emergence as an urban centre under the Romans and traces its vicissitudes over subsequent centuries until the high Middle Ages. Arguably, the most important theme that differentiates its development from many other towns is its position as a 'border' city. The characteristics of the landscape surrounding Carlisle gave it special significance as a front-line element in the defence of the Roman province of Britannia and later at the frontier of two emerging kingdoms, England and Scotland. In both cases, it occupied the only overland route in the west between these two kingdoms, emphasising the importance of understanding its landscape setting.
This volume sheds light on the processes of urbanization under the Romans beginning with a fort, developing into a major nodal hub, and ending as the capital city of the local tribe, the Carvetii. The story continues with the collapse of Roman rule and the city's re-emergence first as a monastic centre, then as a proto-town in the period of Anglo-Scandinavian settlement. Finally, the Norman Conquest confirmed Carlisle's importance with the establishment of a castle, a diocese, and an Augustinian Priory, as well as the granting of specific rights to the citizens. Carlisle uses a combination of archaeological discoveries and historical data to explore the history and legacy of this fascinating city.
Author(s): Mike McCarthy
Series: Cities of the Ancient World
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: xviii+235
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Contents
List of figures
Preface
Acknowledgements
1 The setting
The physical setting
Frontiers and borders
2 An emerging frontier
The cultural setting
Frontier development in lower Germany and Britain
Carlisle: the early forts and annexe
Serving the forts: a military settlement
Conclusion
3 Luguvalium: fabric and townscape
Towards urbanization
The military and administration
The developing townscape
Belief in Roman Carlisle
The hinterland
4 Luguvalium: people and economy
People
The social mix
The economy – food and health
The economy – manufacturing
The economy – exchange
5 Late Roman Carlisle to the Kingdom of Northumbria
A wider context
The church
The end of Luguvalium and beyond
Rheged and the decay of Luguvalium
St Cuthbert and Northumbria
Northumbria: the wider picture
6 Carlisle and an emerging new frontier
Eadred and the transition to Viking settlement
Cumbria – a frontier kingdom?
The nature of Carlisle
The Norman Conquest
7 The Norman takeover
Changing lordship
Symbols of power – the Castle and the church
A developing town
The people of Carlisle
The economy
8 A border city
The border during the thirteenth century
The Anglo-Scottish wars to 1328
The border
Symbols of power – the Castle and the church
The town and its governance
The people and economy
Aftermath
9 Conclusions
The landscape
Frontiers and borders
England and Wales
Urbanization
Carlisle in Europe
Index
