Roman Britain

Known as "the end of the world", Britain came to the attention of Julius Caesar in 54 BC as he searched for fame and glory through conquest. Trade with the Britons was already established but Caesar's invsion formed a lasting affiliation between the Roman Empire and the Southern tribes of England, the Romans claimed a victory over the Britons even though it is thought that Caesar did not subdue many tribes. A renewed invasion was launched by Caligula in 43 AD; this is regarded as the start of the Roman occupation of Britain.

Britain became a province of the Roman Empire, and Romanisation of the Celts increased; many of the clan kings dressed and behaved like Romans as it became the symbol of power and wealth in the country. However, the Northern tribes resisted Romanisation considerably, which led to the famous Hadrian's Wall being built in 112 AD.

Many southern revolts occurred during the Roman accupation - the most famous was the revolt of the Iceni led by Boudica in 60 AD.

On the death of the Iceni king, the Romans appropriated his property and refused to share it with his widow and daughters as was stated in the king's will. The Romans lashed his widow, Queen Boudica, and raped their two daughters; the Iceni tribe revolted as a result of their treatment. The Iceni attacked and burnt down Camulodonum (Colchester); the Romans hid in the temple of Claudius but it was burnt down by the Iceni with the Romans still inside. The scorch marks can still be seen on the walls of the temple under Colchester castle. This is one example of the lasting marks on the country left by the Romans; much archaeology still survives, such as the temple at Harlow and the Roman town of Great Chesterford.

The following reading list is designed as an introduction to Roman Britain and your local archaeological sites of interest. A range of books are provided for beginners to experts, all of which can be found in the Saffron Town Library or the Public Library. Please a member of staff for assistance if you would like to find more books on this subject in the library.


Return to the Catalogue page. In the Shelving column, "Roll" means item is in the Rolling stacks in the Gibson Room of the Town Library, with row number, stack column letter and shelf number. "Open" means item is on the open shelves of the general library. You will need to ask a member of staff to bring items from the Gibson Room.

Author(s) Title Publisher Date Reference Shelving
Alcock, J Life in Roman Britain English Heritage 1996 936.104 Roll 28C5
Allason-Jones, L Daily Life in Roman Britain Greenwood 2008 936.204 Roll 28C6
Bidwell, P Roman Forts in Britain Batsford 1997 936.204 Roll 28C6
Breeze, DJ
and Dobson, B
Hadrian's Wall Penguin 1976 936.288104 Roll 28C6
Clarke, RR East Anglia Thames and Hudson 1960 936.26 Roll 28C6
Cunliffe, B Roman Bath Batsford 1995 936.239804 Roll 28C6
Davies, J
and Williamson, T
Land of the Iceni University of East Anglia 1999 936.2602 Roll 28C6
De la Bedoyere, G Roman Britain: A new history Thames and Hudson 2010 936.104 Open
Essex Archaeology and History Essex Archaeological
Society
1972
onwards
E.050 & E.913 RRm, Left
of Window
France, NE The Romano-British Temple
at Harlow, Essex
West Essex Archaeological
Group
1985 E.HAR.1.913 Roll 30C6
Harding, DW The Iron Age in lowland Britain Routledge 1974 936.101.HAR Roll 28C5
Kemble, J Prehistoric and Roman Essex Tempus 2001 E.913 Open
Merrifield, R The Roman City of London Earnest Benn 1965 936.21204 Roll 28C6
Milne, G Roman London Batsford 1995 936.21204 Roll 28C6
Neville, RC Roman Remains at Ickleton and Chesterford [private] ???? E.CHE.2 Roll 30C3
Rudling, D Ritual landscapes of Roman South
East Britain
Heritage Marketing & Publications 2008 936.2204 Roll 28C6
Scullard, HH Roman Britain Outpost of the Empire Thames and Hudson 1979 936.104 Roll 28C5
Scott, E A Gazetteer of Roman Forts in Britain University of Leicester 1993 936.204 Roll 28C6
Wacher, J The Towns of Roman Britain (2nd ed) Batsford 1974 936.1009732 Roll 28C5
Webster, G Boadica The British Revolt against
Rome AD60
Batsford 1978 936.203 Roll 28C6
Werner, A London bodies Museum of London 1998 936.212 Roll 28C6
Williamson, TM Roman and Medieval Settlement in
North-West Essex
Cambridge PhD Thesis 1982 E.913 Roll 30B5

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