Roman Britain: A History From Beginning to End

By Henry Freeman

This book takes a holistic look at Roman Britain, from the events leading up to its official inception in AD 43 until the Romans left the Isle entirely around AD 409. The timeline is straightforward, and each chapter delves into some aspect of Romano-British life: dealing with the concept of 'the Celts'; when Britannia actually became 'Roman'; how the two peoples attempted to blend their culture through religion; and lastly, why the Romans had to leave. 

Inside you will read about...
✓ The Timeline
✓ Ancient Celtic Ethnicity, A Modern Invention
✓ The Beginnings Of Roman Britain
✓ Religion And Blending Culture In Roman Britain
✓ The Bitter End

It can be difficult to explain everything from a neutral, unbiased perspective as most of the records from the time are Roman in nature, but drawing on a variety of perspectives from archaeologists and historians alike has made for a thought-provoking assessment of the era. Rome's power bestowed cities like London and York to Britannia, and their lasting influence is still visible today in places like Bath, and at Hadrian's Wall to the north. Roman Britain lingers on still.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hourly History
• Release date: Jun 9, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533717009

Book preview

Introduction

From its beginning on April 21st 753 BCE, Rome gradually expanded its foundation and power structure to become the center of an Empire—indisputably one of the greatest, most tumultuous of empires in human history. Under the guidance of rulers from Romulus to Emperor Romulus Augustus, Rome and its eventual Empire spanned a little over one thousand years. Inevitably, given their relatively close proximity to present-day Italy, the British Isles would feel the tendrils of Rome creeping ever nearer. But would those tendrils ever take as firm a hold as the roots that were put down in Rome itself?

The answer, much to Rome and her emperors’ chagrin, was no. That did not stop them from trying, however, and try they did - long and hard - to maintain stability in the provinces that constituted Britannia. Yet never was there an easy peace to be had. Always there was an air of malaise, a feeling of unrest among the native population. Perhaps there was reason for it; perhaps there was unruliness for unruliness’ sake. No one will ever know the dialogues between the first Romans to visit and the peoples they found there. One can imagine the shock that must have passed between them, though.

It was 55 BCE when Julius Caesar invaded the island of Britain for the first time as part of the Gallic Wars. This was due to the fact that the Britons were believed to be helping the Roman enemy, the Gauls, in what is present-day France. In the decades following Caesar’s success, Emperor Augustus attempted to return thrice, but each invasion was cancelled. Caligula’s men, almost a century after Caesar’s invasions, gathered on the Gallic side of the Channel but never made it across. Finally, in 43 CE, Emperor Claudius sent four legions to the island to restore an exiled king over the Atrebas tribe there. The general consensus is that the Romans officially had a foothold on the Isle by 47 CE, still under Claudius’ rule.

In the second century CE, two great walls were constructed on account of the general unrest between Romans and native Britons. Around 197 CE the Severan reforms divided Britannia into two provinces; by the third century the Diocletian Reforms made two more provinces, and in the fourth century a fifth and final province was added. Not long after, by 410 CE at the latest, Roman control was withdrawn from Britannia forever. With nearly four-hundred and sixty years of rule over the island, the Romans undoubtedly changed the shape of the land and the structure of the people there.

Growth is inevitable, but what about the clashes? The conflicts? There were certainly plenty of those as well. This book will lay out

Reviews for Roman Britain

[Ronnie Rife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well written examination of the social, political and cultural impact of the Roman occupation of Britain.