Edit Definition
Definition
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by
Terry Walsh published on 28 April 2011 |
Britain (or more accurately, Great Britain) is the name of the largest of the British Isles, which lie off the northwest coast of continental Europe. The name is probably Celtic and derives from a word meaning 'white'; this is usually assumed to be a reference to the famous white Cliffs of Dover, which any new arrival to the country by sea can hardly miss. The first mention of the island was by the Greek navigator Pytheas, who explored the island's coastline, c. 325 BCE.
During the early Neolithic Age (c. 4400 BCE – c. 3300 BCE), many long barrows were constructed on the island, many of which can still be seen today. In the late Neolithic (c. 2900 BCE – c.2200 BCE), large stone circles called henges appeared, the most famous of which is Stonehenge.
Before Roman occupation the island was inhabited by a diverse number of tribes that are generally believed to be of Celtic origin, collectively known as Britons. The Romans knew the island as Britannia.
It enters recorded history in the military reports of Julius Caesar, who crossed to the island from Gaul (France) in both 55 and 54 BCE. The Romans invaded the island in 43 CE, on the orders of emperor Claudius, who crossed over to oversee the entry of his general, Aulus Plautius, into Camulodunum (Colchester), the capital of the most warlike tribe, the Catuvellauni. Plautius invaded with four legions and auxiliary troops, an army amounting to some 40,000.
Due to the survival of the Agricola, a biography of his father-in-law written by the historian Tacitus (c. 105 CE), we know much about the first four decades of Roman occupation, but literary evidence is scarce thereafter; happily there is plentiful, if occasionally mystifying archaeological evidence. Subsequent Roman emperors made forays into Scotland, although northern Britain was never conquered; they left behind the great fortifications, Hadrian's Wall (c. 120 CE) and the Antonine Wall (142 -155 CE), much of which can still be visited today. Britain was always heavily fortified and was a base from which Roman governors occasionally made attempts to seize power in the Empire (Clodius Albinus in 196 CE, Constantine in 306 CE).
At the end of the 4th century CE, the Roman presence in Britain was threatened by "barbarian" forces. The Picts (from present-day Scotland) and the Scoti (from Ireland) were raiding the coast, while the Saxons and the Angles from northern Germany were invading southern and eastern Britain. By 410 CE the Roman army had withdrawn. After struggles with the Britons, the Angles and the Saxons emerged as victors and established themselves as rulers in much of Britain during the Dark Ages (c. 450 - c. 800 CE).
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Articles
Article
Beer in the Ancient World
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by
Joshua J. Mark published on 02 March 2011 |
The intoxicant known in English as `beer' takes its name from the Latin `bibere' (by way of the German `bier') meaning `to drink' and the Spanish word for beer, cerveza' comes from the Latin word `cerevisia' for `of beer', giving some indication of the long span human beings have been drinking beer. Even so, beer brewing... [continue reading]
Article
Boudicca: Queen of the Iceni, Scourge of Rome
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Joshua J. Mark published on 18 January 2012 |
Boudicca (died 60 or 61 CE) was the Celtic Queen of the Iceni tribe who lead a revolt against Roman occupation of what is now East Anglia, England. So charismatic was Boudicca that ancient sources record tribes joining her revolt which would not normally have supported an Iceni-lead objective. Boudicca was the wife of the Iceni King Prasutagas who ruled... [continue reading]
Article
Illness and medicine in Roman Britain
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by
British Museum
published on 05 August 2011 |
Although medical science was still in its infancy during Roman times, knowledge of medicinal plants was widespread and sick people may have been treated with herbal remedies by relatives and friends. Environment, diet, exercise and hygiene all had a part to play in a positive approach to health. Most towns had latrines, a sewage disposal system and baths... [continue reading]
Article
Tacitus on Boudicca's Revolt
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Joshua J. Mark published on 18 January 2012 |
Tacitus (full name, Publius Gaius Cornelius Tacitus, ca. 56 – ca. 117 CE) was a Roman Senator and an important historian of the Roman Empire. In the following passages Tacitus gives an account of the Iceni Queen Boudicca’s revolt against Rome, 60-61 CE. Chapter 31 (Causes of Boudicca’s Revolt)Prasutagus, the late king of the Icenians... [continue reading]
Article
The health of Iron Age Britons
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by
British Museum
published on 03 August 2011 |
It is likely that many people in Iron Age Britain would have died from diseases as babies or children. Many of those people who survived to be adults rarely lived beyond the ages of 35-45. Only about a third of all adults lived longer. Studies of the bones of Iron Age people suggest that at least a quarter suffered from arthritis in their backs from... [continue reading]
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Britain Books
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Oxford University Press, USA (18 May 2000)Price: $24.26 -
Penn State Press (01 June 1998)Currently unavailable -
Yale University Press (26 April 1995)Currently unavailable -
The Johns Hopkins University Press (17 July 2009)Price: $60.30 -
Princeton University Press (05 February 2007)Price: $55.00
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Timeline
Visual Timeline-
12000 BCEPaleolithic seasonal camp at Howburn Farm in Biggar, Scotland, visited regularly.
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10500 BCE - 7000 BCEMesolithic settlements established (many seasonal) in Scotland.
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c. 6500 BCEPossibly the last time there was a land bridge between Britain and the continent.
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6000 BCEBones and antlers used as tools, ring and cup marks on stones begin appearing in Scotland.
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3806 BCE - 3807 BCEA Neolithic walk way "The Sweet Track" is constructed in England.
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c. 3500 BCEThe vast stone complex known as the Ness of Brodgar in use in Orkney.
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c. 3100 BCENeolithic village of Skara Brae inhabited.
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c. 3100 BCE - c. 2500 BCEMegalithic Period in which majority of standing stone sites were constructed.
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c. 2500 BCEMigration of the so-called Beaker People to Scotland.
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2000 BCECompletion of Stonehenge, Britain.
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55 BCE - 54 BCEJulius Caesar invades Britain twice.
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55 BCE - 54 BCEJulius Caesar's expeditions in Britain.
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55 BCECaesar attempts to invade Britain.
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43 CEClaudian invasion of Britain, includes the Legio II Augusta.
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47 CE - 50 CELondinium (London) founded, roads constructed.
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51 CEBriton rebel leader Caratacus defeated, rebellion crushed.
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60 CE - 61 CEBoudicca's revolt in Britain.
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60 CE - 61 CEBoudicca's Revolt in Britain.
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60 CE - 61 CEBoudicca revolts, the Legio II Augusta does not respond to a call to arms.
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133 CEHadrian’s wall is built in northern England.
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286 CENaval commander Carausius (Marcus Aurelius Mausaeus Valerius Carausius) declares himself emperor in Britain and Northern Gaul.
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293 CEEmperor Carausius assassinated by Allectus.
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450 CEAngels and Saxons settle Britain.
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Terry Walsh wrote on 08 January 2012 at 16:43:
Recent studies suggest that the 'land bridge' to the continent of Europe disappeared (for the last time) about 6500 BC; the event referred to in the BBC article predated this by some considerable time, but this is long before the effects of a number of more recent ice ages.
Jan van der Crabben wrote on 08 January 2012 at 14:33:
Thank you for the clarification. I've removed the timeline entry.
Patrick Faustino wrote on 05 January 2012 at 17:54:
The Timeline item "Sea separates Britain from the rest of Europe." at 6500 BC is most likely wrong.
According to a BBC article, this event happened "some time before 200,000 years ago" - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6904675.stm