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Reasons why the Roman Empire expanded and came to Britain: Read through our information about the Romans and why they settled in Britain. Find the words in BOLD, these will help you to remember the key reasons for Romans being in Britain. Find out the meanings of other Roman terms/words. |
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Trade flourished throughout the Roman Empire. Roman business, traders and bankers used goods and materials from around the empire to increase their trade and their wealth. A lot of the wealth of the Romans came from the countryside. Farming was one of the Empire's most important industries. As the Empire grew farming became more efficient and more productive. There were many different types of grain they could grow: wheat; corn; and barley. As well as grain, animals were used for farming and food sources: goats; cows(often used to help with ploughing); horses; pigs; and chickens. Animals were also useful for making clothes, hides and woollen goods which could be traded. The Romans came to Britain because of all the materials they could use for farming, business and trade: iron; gold; bronze; silver; tin; and lead. People were in good supply. There were lots of people that could be used as slaves and workers on farms. In 43 A.D. the Emperor Claudius sent an army to invade Britain. The Romans were successful, Roman Britain had begun! The army was used to conquer lands to increase the size of the Empire and help increase the prosperity of the Romans. In 55 B.C. the Roman general Julius Caesar conquered France. The Gauls(French) fought hard against the Romans and had been helped by their friends in Britain.
Caesar was upset by the help given by Britain and decided to teach the Britains a lesson. Julius Caesar made two attempts to invade Britain, first in 55 B.C. and then again in 54 B.C. . The official language of the Roman Empire was Latin. Despite being conquered many countries still spoke their own language. Because the Empire spread so far through europe many countries have Latin words(including prefixes and suffixes) in their own languages.
Find out more about the Romans in Britain by visiting these web-sites: www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans http://www.athenapub.com/caesar1.htm |
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Read through our information about the Boudicca. Find the words in BOLD, these will help you to remember some key facts/information. |
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Boudicca
Iceni and the Romans The rulers of the Iceni were King Prasutagus and Queen Boudicca; the Iceni people lived in Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern Britain. Trade was flourishing across the English Channel with the Roman Empire; the Iceni controlled lucrative sea routes into the Wash and the estuaries on the Norfolk coast. The Iceni merchants and nobles became prosperous, between 65BC and AD61 they were able to issue their own coins/money. Following the Roman invasion under Claudius in AD43, King Prasutagus became a client king under the Romans. Friendship with the Iceni would have been important because of their close proximity to Colchester. Colchester was symbolic of Claudius' victory. Colchester was where the temple of Claudius was sited. Colchester rapidly became a focus for Celtic resentment because of the taking of Celtic lands for Roman use and the excessive demands on the local tribes for money. The client king continued to rule but under the government of the Romans, paying taxes and tribute to Rome. Rome could never have hoped to rule so vast an empire without co-operation from the rulers of the areas conquered. It also allowed the Romans to concentrate on territory where rebellion was likely, those under direct military rule, and other areas still to be conquered. Boistrous Boudicca AD 62 Boudicca or Boudiccia Was a queen with one idea "Fight the Romans send them packing; serves them right for their attacking!"
What do we really know of this great British Queen of ancient Britain? She was married to Prasutagus. She ruled over the Iceni - the tribe occupying East Anglia - but under Roman authority. Like many other rulers in Britain at this time, Boudicca witnessed the suffering caused to her people by the Roman Emperor Nero. The final outrage came when her husband Prasutagus died, and the Romans brutally annexed her dominions. This was too much for the Queen and she determined to take on Nero and his Legions. In this she was not alone, all of south east Britain came to her side, ready to die for the Queen who was fierce enough to take on the Roman Empire. Boudicca's opportunity came when the Roman Governor General Seutonius Paulinus and his troops were stationed in Anglesey and North Wales. By the time Paulinus got back, the Roman municipalities of St Albans and Colchester had been burned to the ground by the Britons. Boudicca's warriors were more than a little intimidating. They marched on London and it was here at last that Paulinus faced Boudicca and her army of Britons in the field. Many thousands of Britons fell in battle and those who lived were hunted down by Roman soldiers. Some historians believe that the relative lack of Romano-British remains in Norfolk is testimony to the severity with which the Roman Empire crushed Boudicca and the Iceni peoples.
Finally, faced with defeat, the proud warrior Queen took her own life, by drinking from a poisoned chalice. This much is well known; the challenge is to separate fact from the many legends. Is she really buried under Platform 10 at London's King's Cross Station? For centuries people have been claiming their own local sites as her final resting place. Even more information about that queen Boudicca
Following the death of Prasutagus, Boudicca raised the Iceni in rebellion against Rome and was supported by other tribes such as the Trinovantes (from modern Essex) who resented the foundation of a Roman town at Colchester.
The rebellion began in Colchester - which was burnt to the ground and its inhabitants slaughtered - and continued with the sacking of London and St Albans. The British tribes were defeated by the governor, Suetonius Paulinus, in a pitched battle in the Midlands.
Boudicca died shortly afterwards (possibly at her own hands), and Paulinus punished both the rebel tribes and other neutral tribes. Once the rebellion had been quelled, Rome adopted a more conciliatory attitude.
The Empire The Roman Empire invaded Britain They even took over a little kid's kitten All they wanted was money, jewels, slaves. But did they store the cash in caves??? You may find out on one of these linked sites......
www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans
www.homeworkuk.fsnet.co.uk/History/romans.html
www.atschool.eduweb.co.uk/hettsch
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