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Roman Britain

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A scenic view of Hadrian's Wall, an ancient Roman fortification in Northumberland.

Roman Britain

Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain that became a Roman province called Britannia. The Romans came to Britain a long time ago. They first arrived in 55 and 54 BC when Julius Caesar landed there during his time in Gaul. He met the Britons, who had been influenced by a group called the Belgae.

Real Roman rule started in AD 43. The emperor Claudius sent armies to help a king named Verica of the Atrebates. The Romans built towns and roads, changing many things in Britain.

The Romans brought new ways of farming, building cities, and making things. People from many parts of the Roman Empire moved to Britain, creating a special mix of cultures. The Romans built big walls like Hadrian’s Wall to protect their lands.

After about 400 years, around AD 410, the Romans left Britain. The land began to change in new ways. Many towns and roads the Romans built are still used today. Cities like London, Manchester, and York started as Roman towns.

The Romans also brought new plants and animals to Britain. They introduced a type of nettle and possibly smaller rabbits. They built systems for clean water and waste to keep cities healthy.

Today, Britain’s main language, English, comes from tribes who arrived after the Romans left. Before that, people spoke a language called Common Brittonic, which later became languages like Welsh and Cornish. Some Latin words from the Romans mixed into these older British languages.

Images

A historical map showing the different tribes in Britain who made coins before the Romans arrived.
Map showing Roman military campaigns in Britain from 43 to 60 AD
Historical map showing the northern British campaigns of the Roman general Agricola around 80–84 AD.
A historical map showing Roman military organization in Scotland from the 1st century.
A historical map showing Roman military organization in Scotland during the 2nd century.
An old map from the 1400s showing the British Isles, made by the ancient Greek scientist Ptolemy.
Historical map showing the Roman campaigns in Britain during the early 3rd century.
A map showing the region of Roman Britain around the year 410, illustrating ancient borders and settlements.
A historical map showing Roman Britain around the year AD 400, illustrating ancient regions and provinces.
Map showing Roman towns and villas in 4th century Britain
A map showing Roman roads and settlements in Britain during the 4th century.
Historical map showing Roman Britain in the 5th century
Historical map showing the end of Roman rule in Britain between 383 and 410 AD.

Related articles

Great Britain
Roman province
Julius Caesar
Claudius
London
Manchester

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Roman Britain, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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