THE ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN Abrossimova L.S. Roman

THE ROMAN INVASION OF BRITAIN Abrossimova L.S.

Roman Empire Two thousand years ago the Romans were the most powerful people in the world. Roman conquests began in Italy and then spread to other parts of the Mediterranean world. The Roman Empire became the strongest slave-owning state in the Mediterranean It was the last and the greatest of the civilizations of the ancient world. The Romans conquered all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

THE FIRST ATTEMPTS TO CONQUER BRITAIN In 55 B.C. a Roman army of 10,000 men crossed the Channel and invaded Britain. But the Celts attacked the Romans and the well-armed Romans had to return to Gaul. The next year, in 54 BC, Caesar again came to Britain, this time with larger forces (25,000 men). The Celts fought bravely for their independence but they failed. Julius Caesar was not really able to conquer Britain. The real conquest of Britain by the Romans began only more than one century after Caesar's invasion.

THE CONQUEST UNDER EMPEROR CLAUDIUS In 43 AD a Roman army invaded Britain and conquered the South-East. Other parts of the country were taken from time to time during the next forty years.

Claudius’s Attack Claudius sent an army to invade Britain. The army had four legions.

The Battle on the River Medway The battle raged for two days on the River Medway Eleven tribes of South East Britain surrendered to Claudius and the Romans prepared to move further west and north

The Celts fought fiercely against the Romans who never managed to become masters of the whole island. They were unable to conquer the Scottish Highlands and the Roman province of Britain consisted only of the southern part of the island. From time to time the Picts from the North managed to raid the Roman part of the island, burn their villages, and drive off their cattle and sheep.

Roman Britain

ROMAN BRITAIN Roman Britain was divided into two parts: the civil district and the military district. The Roman Wall or the Hadrian Wall separated Roman Britain from unconquered areas. There were military camps in the military district and the native population was hostile and little affected by the Romans. They frequently revolted and kept to their tribal organization.

Boudicca Revolt This London statue honors Boudicca, queen of the British Iceni tribe. She formed an army to conquer the invading Romans and, it is said, killed 70,000 of the invaders. Boudicca killed herself by taking poison in AD 60.

Hadrian’s Wall Around ad 122, Roman Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a wall in northern Britain, then part of the Roman Empire, to keep out the unconquered Caledonians of Scotland. The wall linked a series of forts and watchtowers. The Romans rebuilt Hadrian’s Wall several times throughout the 200s and 300s and used it as a fortification until about 400.

ROMAN TOWNS In the civil district towns grew along the Roman roads. York, Gloucester, Lincoln and London became the chief Roman towns. London became a center for trade both by road and river. Gloucester, York and Lincoln sprang up round the Roman military camps.

PROVINCIAL SUBDIVISIONS

ROMAN BATHS The Romans also built water supply, sanitation and sewage systems. The rich merchants and official had luxurious houses which contained many rooms, with mosaic floors and central heating. Every Roman town had a drainage system and a good supply of pure water. Temples and public baths could be found in most towns.

ROMAN ROADS To defend their province the Romans stationed their legions in Britain. Straight roads were built so that the legions might march quickly, wherever they were needed, to any part of the country. Bridges of stone were built wherever a road crossed a river; some of these bridges can still be found in Britain today.

THE ROMAN INFLUENCE ON BRITAIN As a result of the conquest signs of Roman civilization spread over Britain. Spread of Latin There had been no towns in Britain before the Romans conquered it. The Romans were great road-makers and now a network of roads connected all parts of the country. Great tracts of forest were cleared, swamps were drained, and corn-fields took their place. The province of Britain became one of the granaries of the Roman Empire. The Romans also built water supply, sanitation and sewage systems. A constant trade was carried on with other parts of the empire. The chief exports were corn, lead, tin, and building tiles. Together with a high civilization the Romans brought exploitation and slavery to the British Isles.

END OF ROMAN RULE . In the 3-d and 4-th centuries the power of the Roman Empire gradually weakened. Early in the 5-th century (407) the Roman legions were recalled from Britain to defend the central provinces of the Roman Empire from the attacks of barbarian tribes. They did not return to Britain.

The Roman way of life influenced only the south-eastern part of the country. The Celts who lived in the country far away from the Roman towns, which were built in the south and the east, kept to their customs and Roman influence upon them was insignificant.

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