Romans in BritainRomans in Britain

Everyday lifeEveryday life

Most Roman Britons lived Most Roman Britons lived in the countryside, so in the countryside, so the normal daily round the normal daily round for most people was for most people was farming, planting and farming, planting and ploughing, storing and ploughing, storing and processing crops, processing crops, managing woodlands,managing woodlands, smelting and smithing.smelting and smithing.

TownsTowns The Romans built towns all over The Romans built towns all over

Britain as centre to administer Britain as centre to administer the people they had conquered. the people they had conquered. Veteran soldiers and Celtic Veteran soldiers and Celtic Chieftains were rewarded with Chieftains were rewarded with houses in the towns and would houses in the towns and would hold important jobs in the law hold important jobs in the law courts or town councilscourts or town councils

HousesHouses

Most people continued to live in Most people continued to live in Iron Age-style round houses of Iron Age-style round houses of timber andtimber and

Thatch which could be sturdy and Thatch which could be sturdy and

quite warm and comfortable.quite warm and comfortable.

Road buildingRoad building

While ancient Britons used While ancient Britons used tracks and paths, the tracks and paths, the Romans built paved roads - Romans built paved roads - over 10,000 miles in total - over 10,000 miles in total - linking towns and forts. linking towns and forts. These were constructed by These were constructed by soldiers and marked with soldiers and marked with milestones so travellers milestones so travellers could judge distances. could judge distances. Major Roman arteries such Major Roman arteries such as Watling Street and the as Watling Street and the Fosse Way can still be Fosse Way can still be followed today.followed today.

TradeTrade

Industry in various forms was Industry in various forms was encouraged by the Romans. encouraged by the Romans. In their bid for the veneer of In their bid for the veneer of civilization the elite of Britain civilization the elite of Britain imported Roman wine, imported Roman wine, jewelers, and potteryjewelers, and pottery. .

BathsBaths

An essential part of Roman life, public An essential part of Roman life, public baths were created in every Roman baths were created in every Roman town and fort. These usually contained town and fort. These usually contained saunas, hot and cold pools, and saunas, hot and cold pools, and exercise areas. Romans went to baths exercise areas. Romans went to baths not only to get clean but also to not only to get clean but also to socialize and do business.socialize and do business.

FoodFood

ReligionReligion

The Romans brought their state gods The Romans brought their state gods to Britain (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva,to Britain (Jupiter, Juno, Minerva,

Mars, Mercury, etc.) and the imperial Mars, Mercury, etc.) and the imperial cult cult

LatinLatin

The universal language of the The universal language of the Roman Empire, Latin was used Roman Empire, Latin was used widely in Britain, particularly for widely in Britain, particularly for writing. With the fall of the writing. With the fall of the Empire, Latin survived in another Empire, Latin survived in another universal institution, the Church, universal institution, the Church, but went into decline in Britain.but went into decline in Britain.

The endThe end