Ancient Britain and Julius Cesar

• The history of England = the migration of humans around the planet looking for a better place to live

• All human history is provisional and transient

Acient Britian

• 2000 years ago, the island of Great Britain was part of the Roman Empire, which began its conquest of the region in 43 AD. Prior to Roman rule, it was inhabited by various Celtic tribes.

  • Geological apart of Europe

• Pytheas became the first Greek to visit and sail around Britain.  He discovered that Ireland lay further west of Britain, and that Norway was to the north of Britain. 

  • Pytheas landed in Cornwall and discovered the tin-mining industry

  • Tin can be mixed with copper to make bronze

    • Tin originated in southwestern Britian

Stonehenge

• Religious worship, ritualistic activity, astronomical observatory

Celtics arrived in the British Isles

Named Gales- term coined maybe in the 18th century

Tall and fair in complexion

Quickly came to dominated the original inhabits of Great britian

A second wave of invaders in the 2nd or 3rd century- know known as Britians

Drove the first wave of Celtics out

Roman thought the early Britians were uncivilized and held nothing but contempt for them

Early Britians were not city dwellers like the romans and had a more tribal nature

Julius Cesar made First Triumphant

Cesar and great britian

Viewed everything as a roman- look down on all of Roman’s enemy

55 B.C. first descent in Britian- landed near Deal and Kent (SW corner)

Cesar was concerned because the conquest of gull could never be accomplished if warriors of Gull could be given shelter in Britian
Conquest of Gull (France)

Defeated Caphalimilas

Cesar demanded and was given surrender

Britian would remain free of roman influence for almost another century

Britian would never see Cesar again but would see Roman again