HIST 3345: Roman Britain

In the 1st century BC, the Roman Republic was transitioning into?

Roman Empire

Most of the Mediterranean Basin was under Rome’s control. The ones in control where:

Italy, Hispania, Gaul, Greece and Balkans, Asia Minor, Levant, Egypt and North Africa

After the battle of Actium, led to the annexation of what country?

Egypt

Julius Caesar Expedition of 55 to 54 BC was where ?

Conquest of Gaul

The Expedition of 55BC DEFINED

Caesar claimed the Britons had supported the Gauls against Rome, giving pretext for invasion. This served as a political stunt.

Expedition of 54BC led to what long term?

Long Term: Caesar account made Britain a target of Roman imperial ambition. Britain became part of Roman strategic thinking, which led to Claudius invasion in 43AD..

How did Caesar’s writings shaped Roman views of Britain?

A land of barbarism, resources and military glory.

The First Roman Contact under Julius Caesar of 55 and 54 BC?

• Julius Caesar led two expeditions to Britain during his Gallic campaigns 

• Not full scale invasions but MILITARY RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS

What did Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico served as?

As a military report and propaganda. Describing Britons as tribal, while portraying his expedition as a success. Briton was seen as a place of rich land.

Even before Caesar.. trade routes existed between Britain and Roman world, things that would get traded?

Tin, Slaves, hides and Grain. (Roman luxury were often traded in South Britain.)

How was Britain seen as?

Edge of known world that is remote, wild and rich in resources.

How did writers like Strabo and Diodorus Siculus describe Britain?

Strange customs, valuable commodities and a mystery.

Who launched the invasion of 43AD?

Claudius

Before Claudius took control of the invasion, who led the invasion originally?

Aulus Plautius, a Roman general

After the victory of Catuvellani, Caratucus, Togodomus..Claudius took glory from taking??

Camulodunum(First Roman Capital of Britain)

Hadrian Wall (122 to 128 AD) was under the direction of?

Emperor of Hadrian. The wall served as defensive of forts,milecastles and turrets.

Oldest ROMAN route?

Via Appia that opened in 312 BC

Roman roads existed for?

Military and Commercial purposes

Roman Britain was considered a place for elites which came with the privilege of?

Stone buildings,public baths,forum, and amphitheaters, hypocausts with a structured goverance.

Native Britons were forced in conditions like?

Lived in Roundhouses and society was tribal/clan based.

Rich Roman Britains would wear??

Tunics, Toga and Stola with leather shoes.

Natives Britons would wear??

Woolen cloaks,tunics, trousers..that used brooches.

The Roman Britain religion consisted of?

Practiced Roman polytheism that worshipped gods like Jupiter, Venus and Mars.

What religion did Native Britons practiced?

Practiced Celtic polytheism, with nature based deities and Druidic rituals.

Jupiter was a ?

Roman God

Abandingus was a god for?

Celtic god of Cambridgeshire.

What was the cause of Boudica’s revolt?

Roman mistreatment of the Iceni tribe after death of king prasutagus..Romans ignored his will and gave taxation

Around 60-61 AD?

Boudica led to several uprising.

What roman towards were destroyed under Boudica’s rebellion?

Camulodunum, Londinium and Verulamium

Roman governor Suetonis Paulinius regrouped and defeated Boudica forces. True/False

True

Did the Romans expect Boudica’s attack?

No, the romans were off guard initially by rebellion.

Roman led to tactics like tight formations, disciplined volleys and cavalary charges?

This was the tactics of Suetonius that notably Legio XIV Gemina and parts of Legio XX Valeria

Boudica became a symbol of?

Resistance.

Rome ways of defense was considered to be?

Concilitatory approach.

Trinovates were?

Allid with Iceni Boudica’s revolt located in SouthEast Britain.

Catuvellani is a powerful tribe ?

Resisted Rome

Silures and Ordovices (Wales) were ?

A tribe that resisted Roman Rule and fought long guerilla.

Dumnoii(South East) were?

Less romanized, retained more native traditons

Roman strategy involved :

alliances, military suppression, and cultural assimilation.

Roman Britain was not a colony but also?

Multicultural Society

What Multicultural features did ROman Britain have?

Temples,Trade and Commerce, Citizenship and Military Units.

Londinium in AD47 was considered to be diverse?

Gauls, Germans, Northern African, Syrians and native Britons.

An example of Syncretism?

An example is the fusion of the Celtic goddess Sulis with the Roman goddess Minerva at the sacred site of Bath (Aquae Sulis).. This syncretism helped the Romans gain acceptance among local populations by respecting and incorporating native beliefs.

Roman Britain was neither fully Roman nor fully native it was?

Patchwork of adaption and defiance 

: Calleva Atrebatum

was the administrative center for the Atrebates tribe, a Romanized Iron Age group. After the Roman conquest in AD 43, it became a civitas capital, meaning it was a local hub for Roman governance, justice, and taxation. This was considered civic life and adminstration

The town was laid out with a regular Roman street grid, replacing the earlier Iron Age street plan. This included distinct blocks (insulae), public buildings, and residential areas

True

_______was a major trading center, connecting Roman roads and facilitating commerce between Britain and the Roman world. It hosted foreign merchants, artisans, and a guild of foreigners

Silchester

Was Silchester built over?

No.Kept to perserve.

End of Roman Britain (c. AD 410): Gradual Withdrawal and Its Effects?

Western Roman empire collapses under strain of civil wars and invasions, and troops were taken from distant provinces and concentrated in the central areas. Romano-British leaders left to fend for themselves. Rome sacked in 410 and 455, and last Roman emperor deposed in 476 AD

• Collapse of centralized Roman governance:

With the Roman administration gone, Britain fractured into smaller, often competing kingdoms and tribal territories

The end of military protection led to?

This vulnerability led to frequent incursions from northern tribes and eventually the arrival of Germanic groups like the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.

Disruption of trade networks: Roman Britain had been part of a vast economic system. Its withdrawal severed these connections, leading to economic isolation. This ultimately declined?

Urban life.

Christianity disappears until??

: Christianity would be reintroduced and strengthened in the 6th and 7th centuries through missions from Ireland and continental Europe.

Roman innovations:

Grid planning and stone construction, arches, and concrete influenced medieval and later British architecture

Surviving structures of Roman Britain?

Remnants of Roman architecture include Hadrian’s Wall, Roman baths in Bath, and mosaics in villas across southern England

What did roman introduce as well??

Romans introduced grid-based city layouts, public buildings, and infrastructure like roads, baths, and aqueducts.

Define Iceni

A native british tribe in east anglia, that was central to Boudica’s rebellion

Define Hadrian Wall

A defensive wall marking the northern boundary of Roman Britain.

Define Antonine Wall.

A second Roman frontier wall built further north than Hadrian’s wall

Define Londinium:

A roman name for London, used for admin and trade

Define Aquae Sulis:

Roman Name for Bath

Legion:

Large roman military that had several legions

Define Camuldounum:

Roman name for Colchester, first Roman capital in Britain

Define Centurion:

Roman Officer comanding a century (80 soldiers)

Define Villa:

A Roman Country estate, often luxurious and agriculturally productive.

Define Forum:

Central Public Space in Roman Towns for markets and civic activites.

Define Basilicia:

A public building that used for adminsitration and legal matters.

Define ROman Roads:

Engineered routes connecting towns and forts across Britain

Define Fosse Way:

Major Roman Road running from Exeter to Lincoln

Define Watling Street:

A key Roman Road from Dover to Wroxeter.

Define Mithraism:

A mystery religion popular among of Roman Soliders.

Define Druids:

Religous leaders among Celtic tribes that were opposed by Romans

Define Roman Temples:

Structures dedicated to Roman gods and goddesses 

Define Jupiter:

Celtic Roman God, often worshipped in Britain.

Define Sulis Minversa:

A syncretic deity worshipped at Bath, combining Celtic and Roman traits

Define Vindolanda:

A Roman Fort near Hadrian Wall, known for perserved writing tablets.

Define Roman Citizenship:

A legal status granting rights and privelges within empire.

Define Roman Trade:

Exchange of goods like pottery, wine and metals

Define Roman Law:

Legal system imposed in Britain, influencing local goverance.