Lesson 8. The Roman influence in Britain

Although evidence of human habitation in Great Britain dates to 700,000 years ago, ice sheets forced the inhabitants from the island several times, and modern settlement dates only from about 12,000 years ago. Little is known about the earliest modern prehistoric inhabitants of Britain, but the remains of their dolmens and barrows and the great stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury are evidence of the developed culture of the prehistoric Britons. They had developed a Bronze Age culture by the time the first Celtic invaders (early 5th cent. B.C.) brought their energetic Iron Age culture to Britain. It is believed that Julius Caesar's successful military campaign in Britain in 54 B.C. was aimed at preventing incursions into Gaul from the island.

In A.D. 43 the emperor Claudius began the Roman conquest of Britain, establishing bases at present-day London and Colchester. By A.D. 85, Rome controlled Britain south of the Clyde River. There were a number of revolts in the early years of the conquest, the most famous being that of Boadicea. In the 2-nd cent. A.D., Hadrian's Wall was constructed as a northern defense line. Under the Roman occupation towns developed and roads were built to ensure the success of the military occupation. These roads were the most lasting Roman achievement in Britain (see Watlinq Street), long serving as the basic arteries of overland transportation in England. Colchester, Lincoln, and Gloucester were founded by the Romans as colonia, settlements of ex - legionaries.

Trade contributed to town prosperity; wine, olive oil, plate, and furnishings were imported, and lead, tin, iron, wheat, and wool were exported. This trade declined with the economic dislocation of the late Roman Empire and the withdrawal of Roman troops to meet barbarian threats elsewhere. The garrisons had been consumers of the products of local artisans as well as of imports; as they were disbanded, the towns decayed. Barbarian incursions became frequent. In 410 an appeal to Rome for military aid was refused, and Roman officials subsequently were withdrawn.

As a result of the conquest of Roman civilization spread over Britain. There had been no towns in Britain before the Romans conquered it. The civilized Romans were city dwellers, and soon as they had conquered Britain they began to build towns, splendid villas, public baths as in Rome itself. York, Gloucester, Lincoln and London became the chief Roman towns; there were also about 50 other smaller towns. London which had been a small trading settlement before the conquest now became a centre for trade both by road and river. Colchester, York, Gloucester and Lincoln sprang up round the Roman military camps. The town of Bath became famous for its hot springs.

The towns grew up as markets and centres of administration. In most towns there were market-places and plenty where merchants sold their goods. The rich merchants and officials 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. The Roman towns were military stations surrounded by walls for defence which were guarded by the Roman warriors.

The Romans were great road-makers and now a network of roads connected all parts of the country. One of the chief roads was Watling Street which ran from Dover to London, then to Chester and into Wales. Along the roads new towns and villages sprang up.

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.

A constant trade was carried on with other parts of the empire. The chief exports were corn, lead, tin and building tiles. The goods were sent in wagons along the roads of Britain, Gaul and Italy to Rome. Britain imported luxury goods, especially fine pottery and metal ware.

But together with a high civilization the Romans brought exploitation and slavery to the British Isles. Rich Romans had villas in the country with large estates, which were worked by gans of slaves. Prisoners of war were sent to the slave-market in the Roman Empire. The free Celts were not turned into slaves but they had to pay heavy taxes to the conquerors and were made to work for them. The Romans made them clean forest, drain swamps, build roads, bridges and wall for defence. That was how the famous Hadrian’s Wall was built too.

Among the Celts themselves inequality began to grow – the tribal chiefs and nobility became richer than the other members of the tribe. Many of them became officials acting for Rome. Tribal chiefs who submitted were appointed to rule their people as before, but now they acted in the name of the Roman Emperor. The noble Celts adopted the mode of life of their conquerors. They lived in rich houses and they dressed as Romans. They were proud to wear togas, which was the sign of being a Roman citizen. They spoke Latin, the language of the Romans. But the rank-and-file Celts went on living in their tiny huts, they soke their native Celtic tongue and they didn’t understand the language of their rulers.

Lesson 9.

TEST №1.

Variant I

1. How were the Celts organized?

2. How long did it take to become a druid?

3. When did the Romans first arrive in Britain?

4. Name the emperor who invaded Britain.

5. Why did the Romans build roads?

6. Name ancient civilizations.

7. What was the negative influence of the Romans in Britain.

8. Why did Hadrian build his wall?

9. When did the Romans leave Britain?