Britain's Prehistory to Roman Conquest

Britain's Prehistory Up To The Roman Conquest

• Britain's climate is milder in the south and the north is cooler due to the Gulf Stream

• The north and west of Britain are mountainous, while the south and east are fairly flat, supporting more agriculture and population

• This resulted in the south and east having more political power

• Travel across water was common, leading to road building for protection of Britain

• Britain was not always an island; it became an island at 5000 BC, and was heavily forested

• Evidence of human life dates back to 250,000 BC, with tools made from flint and hand axes

• The arrival of "new people" occurred, marking the Neolithic period with pottery creation

• Several waves of invaders followed

• 55 BC saw the Romans arrive in Britain

• Public works such as barrows, burial mounds, or large communal tombs were common features of settlements.

Britain's Prehistory 2

• The arrival of new people occurred after 2400 BC, bringing with them new skills in pottery-making and construction of individual graves and communal tombs
• The 'Beaker' people introduced barley, a new cereal crop.
• New skills in metalwork like bronze tools were developed
• The new farmers constructed 'henges', hill-forts and other structures signaling their importance in local power
• Local peoples developed more advanced metalworking skills, creating tools like swords.

Stonehenge

• Stonehenge's stones are from sub-volcanic rock
• The purpose of Stonehenge was not initially understood

The Celts (700 BC)

• Celts were skilled farmers who employed iron and ploughing methods
• They were organized into different tribes in Britain, but would be better described as Anglo-Celts
• They continued agricultural practices of the Bronze Age peoples, living in hillforts
• Celts traded extensively, using rivers and sea routes. Iron bars served as currency
• Celts were known for their cleanliness and neatness; they were literate with a prominent priestly class called Druids, who emphasized religious teachings, tribal law, and medicine.
• Women had significant independence, and equality amongst the more enriched classes arose

The Romans

• The Romans introduced literacy and writing to Britain
• Latin, a language the Romans spoke, disappeared due to the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in the 5th century, yet it was crucial for spreading ideas and establishing power
• Romans were skilled at conquering territory, with a well-trained army and successful strategies
• The Romans conquered the island, dividing it into tribes
• Hadrian's Wall was constructed to mark the division with Scotland (Caledonia), which the Romans couldn't conquer

Roman Life

• Roman towns were the foundation of administration and civilization
• They built 3 types of towns such as colonies, municipalities and civitas, and divided them into cities with Roman citizens
• There were approximately 20 major towns with 5000 inhabitants. Roman camps were situated in locations such as Gloucester, Leicester, Doncaster, Winchester, Chester and Lancaster, which were named in reference to the Latin word for camp (castra).
• The Romans built extensive networks of roads
• Roman farms called villas were important to the richer Britons
• Large cities such as London, with over 20,000 inhabitants, became major trading centers, due to the high surplus of agricultural produce
• London's size was roughly double that of Paris

Prehistoric Timeline

• A timeline was provided to outline specific periods of time with the evolution of the earliest peoples to the Celts, to the arrival of the Romans in Britain.
• The presence of early peoples like those who developed abilities to use flint and later bronze tools or farming is significant

Explore the early history of Britain up to the Roman conquest. This quiz covers significant climatic, geographical, and cultural developments, including the arrival of new peoples and the establishment of various settlements. Test your knowledge of Britain's transition from a heavily forested land to an island nation.