Pre-Roman and Roman Britain

Historical Background

We do not know precisely when the Neolithic tribes first began to settle in Britain but it seems probable that by the time of the Roman Conquest some kind of organised society had been in existence in Britain for over 2000 years. The monuments at Stonehenge and Avebury bear testimony to the achievements of these early settlers.

The Celts were comparative newcomers. They were becoming a force in Europe about five hundred years before the birth of Christ and archaeological evidence suggests that by 200 BC they were beginning to colonise Britain. Although the Celts lived in a pre-literate society, we can piece together some information about their tribal structure and way of life from evidence left behind by Greek and Roman writers.

By the first century BC Celtic tribes in southern Britain were already trading with the Roman Empire. When Julius Caesar undertook his first exploratory expedition in 55 BC one of his aims was to create further commercial agreements between the Empire and the Celtic kings. Almost a century later in AD 43 the Emperor Claudius placed his general, Vespasian, in command of an invasion force and, over the next hundred years, southern and eastern Britain became part of the Roman Empire. By 122 BC, work had begun on Hadrian's Wall, marking the northernmost boundary of the Empire in Britain.

Britain remained a Roman province until the 5th century AD, when the Empire's inability to defend its borders left the Romano-British aristocracy to fend for itself. In AD 410 the British made a final appeal for help in their fight against the invading Saxons. It went unanswered and from that time onwards imperial rule in Britain came to an end.

Time line

The early dates are approximate.

3000 BC Work begins on Stonehenge
2500 BC Avebury becomes an important religious centre
2550 BC Work begins on the Great Pyramid
1750 BC King Minos rules in Crete
1240 BC Tutankhamun is buried
500 BC The Celts begin moving into Europe
221 BC The Great Wall of China is built
200 BC The Celts begin moving into Britain
AD 43 Roman invasion of Britain
AD 122 Work begins on Hadrian's Wall
AD 410 The Empire stops defending Britain