Britannia Romana

At the time of its conquest Britain was one of the most uncivilized of Rome's provinces. For a century before its annexation by the Emperor Claudius there had been political and commercial contacts with Rome, but there was little if any urbanization. Political relationships were maintained by treaties with various British kings, and there was an increasing trade in such commodities as slaves and wine.

The conquest itself took many years to achieve its final form. lt seems probable that the original plan was only to occupy the prosperous south-east, and to exclude Wales and the North where little corn grew and the tribesmen were wild and difficult to control. The original Claudian province was contained behind a limes based on the Fosse Way. Because of the aggressive resistance of the tribesmen beyond this frontier it was a failure, and the Romans were led on to conquer first the Midland triangle as far as the Rivers Severn and Dee, then Wales, and finally the North.

But their first instinct was correct. Only in the South and East of Britain was it possible to introduce the full benefits of classical civilization successfully. In this part of the province after a generation's training, civilized life in towns began...