Colin Wells (historian)
Encyclopedia
Colin Michael Wells was a British historian of ancient Rome
, as well as scholar and archaeologist of classical antiquities and Punic.
, Oxford, from 1952 to 1954, he left university for military service. He joined the Royal Artillery
and was stationed in Egypt
and Germany
. He returned to Oxford and gained his B.A. in 1958.
Wells moved to Ottawa
in 1960, where he taught Latin, Ancient History, and Archaeology at the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Ottawa
. He earned his DPhil from University of Oxford
in 1965, and went on to chair the department in Ottawa.
In 1987, Wells moved to San Antonio in Texas
, where he took up the first T. Frank Murchison Distinguished Professorship of Classical Studies at Trinity University (Texas)
, where he founded a new Department of Classical Studies. He taught there until his retirement in 2005.
After his retirement he moved with his wife to live in Normandy
, near Saint-Lô
. He died of a stroke in North Wales in March, 2010, and is survived by his wife Kate and his two sons.
and the Roman geopolitical issues pertaining to the Roman Limes
, for which there was interest from the earliest publications.
Wells also had an active role as an archaeologist of the ancient Punic and Roman antiquities of provinces: at Carthage
from 1976 to 1986, he directed the excavations made by the second Canadian team, under the "Save Carthage" promoted by UNESCO
, a task which he continued under the auspices of Trinity University, and of which he was director since 1991.
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, as well as scholar and archaeologist of classical antiquities and Punic.
Biography
After studying at Oriel CollegeOriel College
Oriel College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford...
, Oxford, from 1952 to 1954, he left university for military service. He joined the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and was stationed in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He returned to Oxford and gained his B.A. in 1958.
Wells moved to Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
in 1960, where he taught Latin, Ancient History, and Archaeology at the Department of Classical Studies at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. He earned his DPhil from University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1965, and went on to chair the department in Ottawa.
In 1987, Wells moved to San Antonio in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, where he took up the first T. Frank Murchison Distinguished Professorship of Classical Studies at Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University (Texas)
Trinity University is a private, independent, primarily undergraduate, university in San Antonio, Texas. Its campus is located in the Monte Vista Historic District and adjacent to Brackenridge Park....
, where he founded a new Department of Classical Studies. He taught there until his retirement in 2005.
After his retirement he moved with his wife to live in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, near Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô is a commune in north-western France, the capital of the Manche department in Normandy.-History:Originally called Briovère , the town is built on and around ramparts. Originally it was a Gaul fortified settlement...
. He died of a stroke in North Wales in March, 2010, and is survived by his wife Kate and his two sons.
Studies
His fields of interest includes social and economic history of ancient Rome, with particular regard to military matters, Roman Africa and the transition of the Islamic North Africa, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the Roman geopolitical issues pertaining to the Roman Limes
Limes
A limes was a border defense or delimiting system of Ancient Rome. It marked the boundaries of the Roman Empire.The Latin noun limes had a number of different meanings: a path or balk delimiting fields, a boundary line or marker, any road or path, any channel, such as a stream channel, or any...
, for which there was interest from the earliest publications.
Wells also had an active role as an archaeologist of the ancient Punic and Roman antiquities of provinces: at Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
from 1976 to 1986, he directed the excavations made by the second Canadian team, under the "Save Carthage" promoted by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, a task which he continued under the auspices of Trinity University, and of which he was director since 1991.