"History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon" 

(Napoleon Bonaparte, 1769 - 1821)

In AD 43 the Celts tribes were conquered by the Romans. The Roman Emperor Claudius invaded Britain and made it a Roman province. So, from AD 43 to about AD 409 today's England and Wales were parts of the Roman Empire.

After the Conquest the Romans led a semi-detached life without mingling with the Britons at all. They fortified the country building a lot of military fortresses, towns, roads and many storeyed houses.

Many of the Roman towns were at first army camps, later the Latin word for camp, castra, stuck and became the ending of many town names to this day: Lancaster, Winchester, Chester and many others. 

The Roman culture was established across the southern half of Britain, making important contribution to the Celtic life. The Romans transformed London into an important trading centre in northern Europe. Many Britons began to wear togas.The Romans brought the skills of reading and writing to the illiterate Celtic tribes.They knew how to make butter and cheese; they were the first who introduced their wine-making tradition to England. The Romans also brought new vegetables like pea, pepper and fruits like plums and cherry. With time the Celtic native language absorbed many Latin words, such as street (strata via), wall (vallum), castle (castra).

However, Romans couldn't conquer 'Caledonia', as they called Scotland. In order to keep Picts and Scots out they built a huge wall along the northern border, separating England from Scotland, and named it Hadrian's Wall - after the Emperor Hadrian who planned it.

The withdrawal of the Roman legions took place in 410 AD as a result of decline of the Roman Empire.