Explore a fascinating ancient land of conflict and change in this BBC History Magazine collector’s edition: Roman Britain.
Inside you will discover: ◆ A timeline of key milestones in Rome’s British adventure ◆ The exploits of the ancient Britons who battled the Roman invaders – and sometimes collaborated with them ◆ An in-depth look at everyday life for the inhabitants of the Roman province of Britannia ◆ Insights into Rome’s military campaigns in Britain – some successful, others ill-fated ◆ Dramatic accounts of the upheavals that preceded the collapse of Roman Britain ◆ Expert analysis of the Roman legacy in the physical and cultural landscape of Britain
WELCOME
The rise and fall of Britannia • Miles Russell traces the story of Roman Britain, from first invasion attempts to final abandonment by the occupiers
BRITAIN BEFORE THE ROMANS • The island invaded by Claudius in AD 43 was a diverse realm with varied peoples and industries, influenced by trade with the Mediterranean. Barry Cunlifie explores Iron Age Britain
10 BIG QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONQUEST • The Claudian invasion of AD 43 was a triumph of Roman military might and civilisation against proud and steadfast native resistance. Or was it? Gillian Hovell answers 10 key questions about the start of the Roman occupation
WHY DID CAESAR ONLY COME, SEE... AND THEN LEAVE AGAIN?
WHAT PUSHED CLAUDIUS TO INVADE?
HOW DID THE INVASION OF AD 43 BEGIN?
HOW STRONG WAS THE ROMAN ARMY?
DID THE BRITONS KNOW THAT THE ROMANS WERE COMING?
DID THE ROMANS HAVE SUPPORT FROM NATIVE BRITONS?
WHAT DID THE ROMANS THINK BRITAIN WOULD BE LIKE?
WHEN DID THE INVASION FINISH AND THE OCCUPATION BEGIN?
HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY KNOW ABOUT THIS STORY?
“WE WILL FIGHT WELL BECAUSE WE ARE FREE” • Despite the brutal suppression of British revolts against Roman rule, the empire’s writers tended to portray rebels such as Boudica in a surprisingly positive light. Charlotte Higgins seeks to explain this curious turn of events
THE REBELS’ STOMPING GROUND • Explore landmarks in the Britons’ fight for freedom, and discover surviving relics of their exploits
WHEN BRITANNICA RULED THE WAVES • British sea power didn’t begin in the 18th century but with the Roman !eet known as Classis Britannica – Britain’s "rst navy. Simon Elliott explores the origin, achievements and end of this mighty armada
WELCOME TO BRITANNIA • Bronwen Riley takes the pulse of Roman Britain in AD 130 and !nds that, 80 years a"er the conquest, tensions are still simmering – especially in the borderland around Hadrian’s Wall
THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN AD 130
RULED BRITANNIA • Nine nerve centres of Roman Britain in AD 130
WHEN IN LONDINIUM… • Discover daily life for Roman Britons in AD 130 – from sleeping with hounds to gambling away wages
WHAT HAPPENED TO BRITAIN’S LOST ROMAN LEGION? • Rosemary Sutcli!’s book The Eagle of the Ninth and the blockbuster "lm suggest that the lost legion met a bloody fate in Scotland. Miles Russell asks what really befell the Ninth
LEGION OF THE DAMNED
ROME VS SCOTLAND • After the initial invasion of Britain, Rome quickly consolidated its hold on the south – but the north proved intractable. Miles Russell traces Rome’s ill-conceived campaigns in Scotland
RISE AND FALL OF HADRIAN’S WALL • The emperor’s ambitious frontier was a monumental feat of building – but it relied on soldiers as well as stone to function
THE FIRST BRITISH EMPIRE • In the third century AD, Britain was the epicentre of a massive rebellion that shook the Roman empire to its core. Kevin Butcher tells the story of Britannia’s usurper emperors
SPENDING POWER • Britain’s rebel emperors filaunted their might on coins
ROMAN BRITAIN’S CENTURY OF...