Yahoo News Alt-right commentator gets 'schooled' by historian over diversity in Roman Britain
An alt-right commentator who complained about the BBC portraying Roman Britain as ethnically diverse has sparked a row with a historian on Twitter.
Paul Joseph Watson (PJW), editor of alt-right website InfoWars, shared a screengrab of a BBC educational video on life in Britain, suggesting it was inaccurate.
Thank God the BBC is portraying Roman Britain as ethnically diverse.
I mean, who cares about historical accuracy, right? pic.twitter.com/SqE83Pmf2h— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) July 25, 2017
“Thank God the BBC is portraying Roman Britain as ethnically diverse,” he tweeted. “I mean, who cares about historical accuracy, right?”
Step forward writer and historian Mike Stuchbery, who gave PJW a quick history lesson on ethnic diversity in Roman Britain.
“Roman Britain was ethnically diverse, almost by design. To begin, occupying legions were drawn from other parts of the Empire,” Stuchbery responded.
“Every year we dig up new remains that suggest that Roman Britain, anywhere larger than a military outpost, was an ethnically diverse place.”
His full response:
Roman Britain was ethnically diverse, almost by design. To begin, occupying legions were drawn from other parts of the Empire.
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
We have accounts of 'moors', along with (modern-day) Iraqi & Syrian soldiers on Hadrian's Wall. https://t.co/KmuhwjFLUn
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
...many of the inhabitants of the 'vicus' would travel with the legion, especially if they were considered 'elite'.
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
London, as the capital of the province, was especially diverse. People lived, worked & died together from all over.
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
Lant Street Girl was 14 when she died. She came from the southern Mediterranean. https://t.co/AiP4OUIxmZpic.twitter.com/UH6vIzS5uR
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
Spiralfields Woman's DNA can be traced directly to Rome. Probably an aristocrat. https://t.co/KHJmr7PDqWpic.twitter.com/C0R36PgBP5
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
Not just London, we have evidence of North Africans as high-status individuals in York. https://t.co/rxMA7DaSjrpic.twitter.com/jfQKVNVxKG
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
Every year we dig up new remains that suggest that Roman Britain, anywhere larger than a military outpost, was an ethnically diverse place.
— Mike Stuchbery ���� (@MikeStuchbery_) July 25, 2017
PJW hit back in a video post, responding : “The BBC released an educational documentary about Roman Britain depicting what they said was an ‘exploration of life in Roman Britain shown through the eyes of a typical family’.
“I tweeted it was historically inaccurate to depict Roman Britain as ethnically diverse, making the point that this was obviously the BBC engaging in politically correct tokenism.”
Well, I had better revise the contents of my bachelors degree in Classical Latin then. Thank you for updating me.
— Niclas D (@Vallamnius) July 25, 2017
