The Romans

Alena Prokešová

Britain before The Romans

the Celts many tribes,

uncoordinated, no governmental structure

parts of Britain ruled by kings

frequent incursions into other territories

Roman Invasion

55 BC – Julius Caesar first invaded Britain – the Celts cooperated with the Gauls

landed on the coast of Kent, demonstrated his strength and returned to Gaul (France)

54 BC – came back with more soldiers

neglected Gaul, had to leave Britain

the Romans traded with British tribes, Britain is a very wealthy place

Roman Invasion

43 AD – Emperor Claudius invaded Britain

this time the Romans came to stay

Claudius entered Colchester in triumph

Iceni tribe had friendly relations with the Romans – their chieftains left in power

Roman attack to Iceni kingdom after the death of the king

Roman Invasion

queen Boudicca launched an uprising

almost managed to dislodge the Romans

was defeated and killed 77 AD Agricola became an

imperial governor he succeeded in conquering

the Welsh tribes Roman conquest of Britain was

complete except for Caledonia (Scotland)

he dreamt about conquering Ireland, but it remained free of the Romans

Roman Invasion

122 AD – Roman Emperor Hadrian built Hadrian‘s Wall – between Roman Britain and Scotland

6 years to build it, 117 km long, forts

it was built as a defence from the Scottish Barbarians

142 AD – the Romans started to build Antonine’s Wall (Hadrian‘s successor Antoninus Pius) further in the north, but later abandoned

Roman Invasion

Britannia – England + Wales the Celts adapted to Roman

customs they lived in villas, spoke Latin the tribal centres developed into

Roman towns

Decline in Roman Britain

around 300 AD – the attack of the barbarian hordes to the Roman Empire in central Europe

some troops withdrawn to help attacks in the Nothern Britain from

Scots and Picts Gaul in the hands of barbarian

rulers in the 5th century – no return of Romans to Britain

Roman Influence

Roads – straight, important for Roman army

Buildings: timber and daub –

little evidence nowadays

stone, brick and tile Wealthy citizens:

in the city – domus in the countryside –

villas Lower class: flats –

called insulae

Roman Influence

Towns: the Forum – a market place,

businesses and government offices, temples

public baths, still in the city of Bath in Sommerset

running water and sewers, aqueducts

mosaics, pipes with water, central heating under the floors in houses of rich people

the biggest – London, Colchester, St. Albans

latin word for camp – castra, chester in old English – once a Roman town (Doncaster, Dorchester, Cirencester)

Roman Influence

Language – many words are based on Latin words, our alphabet is based on Latin alphabet

The Calendar – started by Julius Caesar, names of our months taken from the names of Roman gods and rulers

Law and legal system The Census – a count of all people Religion – worshipping of gods – temples

The Sources

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/Romans.html#general

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/nettsch/time/romans.html

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/histories.asp?nid=ac71&pid=cly&from=&back

Thank you for your attention.