There are several reasons why the Roman’s interest in Britain increased from the beginning of the second century BC. Therefore, I would like to illustrate one of them as an introductory approach to Roman Britain based on the book called Greeks, Romans and Barbarians by Barry Cunliffe. Since Rome had become an imperial power and had destroyed its two most powerful trading rivals, Carthage and Corinth, in 146 BC, the Roman state required a constant flow of raw materials such as iron and bronze. This need, and the endemic militarism of the state, led inevitably to a process of economic exploitation of peripheral areas, followed by conquest (Cunliffe 1988: 10). In this way, as Cunliffe points out, the Roman traders and the army leapfrogged over each other across barbarian Europe, beginning to absorb the largely Celtic tribes into the Roman system from 54 BC to 440 AD when the Romans left Britain due to shrinking empire.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Roman advance to Britain by trade
- Roman invasion by military forces
- Roman invasion by military forces
- Romanisation in Britain
- End of Roman Britain…..\n
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the reasons behind Rome's growing interest in Britain from the second century BC, focusing on the role of trade and military conquest in shaping Roman-British relations. The author uses historical accounts and archaeological evidence to illustrate the process of Romanization in Britain, examining its impact on various aspects of life, including language, culture, and architecture.
- The role of trade in Rome's expansion into Britain
- The impact of Roman military conquest on the Celtic population
- The process of Romanization in Britain, including its effects on language, culture, and daily life
- The coexistence of Roman and Celtic cultures in Britain
- The influence of Roman Christianity on British society
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Roman Britain by outlining the reasons for Rome's growing interest in the region during the second century BC. The author highlights the role of economic exploitation and militarism in Rome's expansion, which led to the absorption of Celtic tribes into the Roman system.
- Roman advance to Britain by trade: This chapter focuses on the historical and economic context of trade between Britain and the Continent, emphasizing the importance of tin trade and the impact of Roman merchants on the Celtic population. The author argues that Roman influence, while significant, did not replace Celtic culture but rather resulted in a dual character of Romano-British civilization.
- Roman invasion by military forces: This chapter explores the military conquest of Britain by Julius Caesar in 55 or 54 BC, highlighting the limited nature of Roman conquest and the persistence of Celtic culture in certain regions. The chapter also discusses the subsequent Roman invasions under Claudius and Flavius, as well as the ongoing resistance from Celtic populations, particularly in Wales.
- Romanisation in Britain: This chapter examines the extent to which Romanization took place in Britain, focusing on the influence of Roman culture and language in towns and among the ruling classes. The author highlights the development of education, public buildings, and Romanized customs in urban areas, contrasting these with the continued presence of Celtic culture in the countryside.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in this text include: Roman Britain, Romanization, Celtic culture, trade, military conquest, language, architecture, Christianity, paganism, Roman villas, amphorae, gladiators, and the Catuvellauni and Atrebates tribes.
- Quote paper
- Hildegard Schnell (Author), 2007, Roman Britain, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/83373
