The Roman occupation of Britain lasted nearly 400 years; it came to an end in the early 5th c. In A.D. 410, the Roman troops were officially withdrawn to Rome by Constantine.This temporary withdrawal turned out to be final, for the Empire was breaking up due to internal and external causes, - particularly the attacks of barbarian tribes ( including the Teutons ) and the growth of independent kingdoms on former Roman territories.

After the departure of the Roman legions the richest and most civilised part of the island, the south- east, was laid waste. Many towns were destroyed. Constant feuds among local landlords as well as the increased assaults of the Celts from the North and also the first Germanic raids from beyond the North Sea proved ruinous to the civilisation of Roman Britain.

To be continued.

In the first century B.C. Gaul was conquered by the Romans. Having occupied Gaul Julius Caesar made two raids on Britain, in 55 and 54 B.C. Caesar attacked Britain for economic reasons - to obtain tin, pearls and corn, - and also for strategic reasons, since rebels and refugees from Gaul found support among their kinsmen. Although Caesar failed to subjugate Britain, Roman economic penetration to Britain grew; traders and colonists from Rome came in large numbers to settle in the south - eastern towns. In A.D. 43 Britain was again invaded by Roman legions under emperor Claudius, and towards the end of the century was made a province of the Roman Empire.

The province was carefully guarded and heavily garrisoned: about 40,000 men were stationed there. Two fortified walls ran across the country, a network of paved Roman roads connected the towns and military camps. Scores of towns with a mixed population grew along the Roman roads - inhabited by Roman legionaries and civilians a ... Читать дальше »