PREHISTORY

Why, then, are we not either starting this History of Britain before the Romans, or consigning Roman Britain as some
modern writers would do, to ‘pre-history’? […] The critical difference between Roman Britain and what went before is
that its society was literate, perhaps more literate than at any other time till the end of the middle ages.
(Salway in Morgan, 1993 p.2-3)

Paleolithic Period (Old Stone Age)

● 500,000 BC -- First evidence of human life.
● From that time until 10,000 years ago human groups moved as climate dictated by land and sea as the British
Isles were joined to the European landmass.
● 8000 BC – climate improvement led to permanent settlement.
● Hunter-gatherer economy, nomadic life.
Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age)
● Little archaeological evidence.
● Hunter-gatherer economy, nomadic life.
Neolithic Period (New Stone Age)
● Farming reached Britain between about 5000 BC and 4500 BC, sedentary life → Neolithic revolution.
● Polished use of stone artifacts + wheels.
● Constructions: great stone or megalithic circles or henges.
Bronze Age (Metal Age)
● The discovery of metal casting.
● The formation of societies of high population density.
● The emergence of the first state organizations.
● The first complex social organization with class differentiation, with the people and the ruling class.
● The increase in warfare, with preferred weapons.
Iron Age: 6th Century BC (Metal Age)
● CELTS
● Division into territories of tribes with unstable boundaries.
● Warrior society.
● Strong class stratification
● Fragmentary knowledge of religion: Polytheists, sacrifices,
● Druidism.
● Druids: political and intellectual leaders.
● Though Stonehenge was used, natural settings were preferred.

ROMAN HISTORY
Periodization in Ancient Roman History
● Monarchy: foundation 753 BC – 509BC
Rule of 7 elected monarchs until Patrician Rebellion.
● Republic: 509 BC - 27 BC
Attempt to avoid personal power. Organization in 3 powers: Consuls, Senate, Assembly.
● Empire: 27 BC – 476 -
Appointment of Octavian as emperor until the abdication of Romulus Augustus

Religion in Roman Britain

● Extirpation of Druidism.
● Destruction of Stonehenge.
● Cult of the Emperor.
● 4th c.- Christianity official religion of the Empire.

End of Roman Rule

● 409: Secession of Britannia
● 410: sack of Rome by Goths
● 450s: “Saxons” come to control southern Britannia
● 476: End of Western Roman Empire

● 753 BCE: Rome was founded. The city known as Rome was founded by Romulus along the Tiber River around
the Palatine Hill.
● 509 BCE: Rome becomes a Republic.The Rule of the kings is overthrown establishing rule by the Senate.
● 218 BCE: Hannibal Invades Italy. In a daring crossing of the Alps, Hannibal Barca enters Italy as part of the
Second Punic War.
● 60 BCE: Julius Caesar forms the First Triumvirate with Crassus and Pompey. This political alliance ruled Rome
for several years.
● 50 BCE: Empire expands. Julius Caesar claims victory in the Gallic Wars pushing the west into Germany,
France and Britain.
● 49 BCE: Crossing the Rubicon.Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon from Gaul into Italy marking the beginning of
a Civil War that would last for four years.
● 45 BCE Julius Caesar became the first dictator of Rome. Julius Caesar emerges victorious and declares himself
ruler of Rome.
● 44 BCE: Julius Caesar is assassinated. Julius Caesar is assassinated during the Roman holiday the Ides of
March. His assassination would throw Rome into crisis and establish the reign of emperors.
● 27 CE: Rome is established as an Empire. Augustus, Julius Caesar’s adopted son, gives full power back to the
Senate and becomes the emperor of Rome.
● 64 CE: Rome is burning.The Great fire of Rome burns for 9 days. While rumored to have started the fire, Nero
blames it on Christians, which leads to their persecution.
● 79 CE: Mount Vesuvius Erupts. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroys the city of Pompeii burying it in ash
and lava.
● 80 CE: Colosseum is built. Emperor Titus completes the Colosseum and marks the event with 100 days of
games.
● 122 CE: Hadrian Wall is built. Hadrian begins the construction of a 73-mile wall to keep the northern tribes of
Britannia at bay.
● 166 CE: Rome in China.The first embassy arrives in China marking the official establishment of trade relations.
● 306 CE: Constantine becomes Emperor.Constantine comes to power at the death of his father, he would later
end the persecution of Christianity.
● 380 CE: Christianity becomes official.Edict of Thessalonica declares Christianity the official religion of the
Roman Empire.
● 390 CE: City of Rome invaded.Brennus leads an army of Gauls to capture most of the city of Rome. Marking the
first time the city has fallen to a foreign army.
● 395 CE: Rome Fractures.With the death of Theodosius. Legitimate heirs in both east and west cannot
consolidate power, which splits the empire in two.
● 410 CE: Barbarians at the gates.The Visigoths sack the city of Rome. Marking the second time the city has
fallen to a foreign army and ushers in the decline of the empire itself.
● 476 CE: Rome falls. Western Rome falls and brings with it the empire known as ancient Rome. However, the
Eastern Roman Empire known as the Byzantine Empire remains.
● 1054 CE: The Great Schism. No longer able to reconcile their difference, the Catholic Church in the West and
the Eastern Orthodox Church in the east officially excommunicated each other.
● 1453 CE: The Byzantine Empire falls. No longer able to keep the Ottoman Empire at bay, the Ottoman Turks
capture Constantinople, modern day Istanbul.