06-12-2009, 06:30 PM
Those sites--SW England--also yielded imported pottery (now labelled Tintagel A & B) during that period, when trade and commerce were assumed to be restricted. As documented on Robert's Vortigen Studies site, Gildas may have overstated the "ruin" of Britain. "The wealthier Britons of the west imported oil, wine and other luxuries from the Mediterranean. A biographer of Germanus, writing fairly soon after Ambrosius' rise, felt able to speak of Britain as properous." (p. 38, Ashe, Quest for Arthur's Britain)
Commerce between Britannia (especially Dumnonia) and Armorica is well documented. In fact, about this time, Armorica started becoming Little Britain, the source of its current name: Britanny. Horse culture and horse trading was likewise documented, as reflected in the laws mentioned.
The lack of a strong, central government, of course, contributed to the rise of feudalism, which was one solution to fielding adequate numbers of trained, equipped horse warriors. Assumedly, other approaches were tried and found wanting during the intervening centuries.
Possible does not mean probable, much less positive; but there is evidence of a horse culture in Britain, too. The Goddodin certainly did not appear in northern Britain at the end of the sixth century without some precedence. We just don't know it that was.
Commerce between Britannia (especially Dumnonia) and Armorica is well documented. In fact, about this time, Armorica started becoming Little Britain, the source of its current name: Britanny. Horse culture and horse trading was likewise documented, as reflected in the laws mentioned.
The lack of a strong, central government, of course, contributed to the rise of feudalism, which was one solution to fielding adequate numbers of trained, equipped horse warriors. Assumedly, other approaches were tried and found wanting during the intervening centuries.
Possible does not mean probable, much less positive; but there is evidence of a horse culture in Britain, too. The Goddodin certainly did not appear in northern Britain at the end of the sixth century without some precedence. We just don't know it that was.
"Fugit irreparabile tempus" (Irrecoverable time glides away) Virgil
Ron Andrea
Ron Andrea
