Throughout our time learning Latin and Roman culture, we've learned all about the different places the Romans conquered and how their culture spread across the Mediterranean and modern day Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. One significant addition to the Empire was Britain (Britannia in Latin). For decades, the Romans had been fighting in the Mediterranean in place Greece, Spain, North Africa, Syria, and Egypt. As we learned in a different culture unit, Julius Caesar was the general who brought the Romans gaze to Gaul (modern day France and Belgium). During his conquest of Gaul, Caesar heard of a mysterious island to the north from local traders. Caesar then led two expeditions to Britain, though these never led to territorial gain.
In 43 CE, the Romans under Emperor Claudius started a formal invasion of Britain. This conquest would take a few decades, though, and was a gradual process. In the end, the Romans conquered a large part of the Britain and their cultural influence would have a major impact on the world through the later conquests of the British Empire (including America!). Therefore, it's really worth learning about the Romans in Britain so that we can understand our own history as Americans! |
World History Encyclopedia Article: Roman Britain
To start our discussion, click here to open a WHE article on Roman Britain. Take notes as you go!
Watch the video above for a visualization of Britain across the years. Pay particular attention for the entrance and exit of the Romans!
Caesar in Britain
Next, let's come back to our Kings and Generals video on Julius Caesar to learn more about the first Roman expeditions to Britain. Start the video at the 9:20 mark to get to the relevant section for this unit.
Hadrian's Wall
From 117 CE to 138 CE, the Roman Empire was ruled by one of the more fascinating and well-known emperors in its history, Hadrian (Publius Aelius Hadrianus). Hadrian was known as a "hand-on" emperor who insisted on getting out and seeing his empire instead of staying in the city of Rome. During his reign, he visited almost province in the empire.
In 122 CE, Hadrian came to inspect the province of Britannia and began the construction of a massive fortification that still carries his name -- Hadrian's Wall (Vallum Hadriani). The purpose of the wall is still debated, but it served as a physical barrier to limit the frontier of the Roman Empire in Britain. To the south was "Roman" and to the north was "barbarian." This wall marked one of the first times the Romans stopped their expansion and set up a defensive barrier to mark their territory. Regardless of the true purpose, Hadrian's Wall was (and is!) an architectural marvel, spanning the entire length of Britain (73 miles). Today, the remains of the wall still stand and serve as a reminder of the power of Ancient Rome. |
World History Encyclopedia Article: Hadrian's Wall
Click here to open an WHE article on Hadrian's Wall. Take notes as you go! Then, take a look at the images of Hadrian's Wall below, including some of Vindolanda, a reconstructed fort along Hadrian's Wall.
A few images of the remains of Hadrian's Wall
A reconstruction of the Vindolanda fort along Hadrian's Wall c/o Vindolanda Trust
#HadriansWall was a defensive fortification in #Britannia, begun in 122 AD in the reign of the emperor #Hadrian. It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth on the Irish Sea, and was the northern limit of the #RomanEmpire. #RomanSiteSaturday pic.twitter.com/T2LxNAqqpV
— Digital Maps of the Ancient World (@DigitalMapsAW) November 30, 2019
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