American historian David Montgomery claimed that the civilisation brought to Britain by the Roman Empire was largely a facade, albeit a splendid one, because it was enforced by Government rather than willingly adopted. He quoted the words of Calgacus, the Caledonian tribal leader, who complained that the Romans dignified with the name of peace something that was merely frightened subjection.

Montgomery illustrated the deceptiveness of Roman civilisation in Britain by contrasting the country estates and surprisingly modern villas enjoyed by wealthy urban dwellers (mostly Roman military veterans and their friends) with the wattle-and-daub huts of the conquered Britons, who worked for their Continental masters for little or no pay.

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