Fall of Roman London

The Ancients

History Hit

History

4.7 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 27 July 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Why was London transformed from a bustling Roman metropolis into a ghost town by the fifth century?

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Dominic Perring to explore the rich archaeological findings that reveal the city's final chapters, including the building of defensive walls, the influence of key figures like Magnus Maximus, and the economic shifts impacting the Roman Empire. They discuss the cosmopolitan makeup of Roman London and the significant rise and fall cycles it experienced before its eventual disappearance beneath the rubble.

The Roman Invasion of Britain

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1lTa6DyKYntcPdkRrvwCnc

The Fall of Roman Britain

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6vMwL1dueziXVNOwloY9xn

Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan and the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music courtesy of Epidemic Sounds

The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Fancy a fever tree and vodka.
0:03.8	Yes, vodka, not gin.
0:06.7	Because this is fever tree Mexican lime soda.
0:10.0	Yes, soda, not tonic.
0:13.0	With Mexican lime and Japanese yuzu for a zesty, refreshing lime soda that's just sweet enough.
0:19.6	Delicious with vodka or on its own. Fever tree, Mexican lime soda that's just sweet enough. Delicious with vodka or on its own.
0:23.1	Fever Tree Mexican lime soda mix with the best.
0:27.7	Hmm, now that hits the spot.
0:30.1	Hey guys, Tristan here and I have an exciting announcement.
0:33.9	The ancients will be returning to the London Podcast Festival.
0:38.3	Now, last year tickets they sold out at record speed, so this time we've been upgraded.
0:43.8	We've got a bigger room.
0:45.4	And you, you can be there too on Friday the 5th of September at 7pm at King's Place.
0:52.5	Now I've invited Friend of the podcast, the fabulous Dr. Eve MacDonald, to join me on stage
0:57.9	where we will be exploring the gripping story of ancient Carthage.
1:02.9	Carthage, the Phoenician city that became a superpower,
1:06.6	an empire that rivaled Rome for control in the Western Mediterranean,
1:10.4	and ultimately had a terrible traumatic demise.
1:14.8	Of course, the ancients is nothing without you,
1:17.6	so we want you to be there in the audience taking part
1:20.4	and asking us your burning questions.
1:23.7	Tickets for the festival are always so fast.
	...

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