Britain's history stretches back thousands of years, long before it was called Britain. From the first Stone Age settlers to the mighty Roman Empire, this early period laid the foundations for the nation we know today. Let's go back to where it all began.
Key facts
- The first people to arrive in Britain were hunter-gatherers who came about 10,000 years ago after the last Ice Age.
- Stonehenge was built during the Stone Age and Bronze Age, around 3000–2000 BC, and is in present-day Wiltshire.
- The Bronze Age brought metalworking; the Iron Age saw the development of hill forts and tribal societies.
- The Romans first invaded Britain in 55 BC under Julius Caesar, but the main invasion was in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius.
- The Romans built roads, baths, aqueducts, and Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern frontier of the Roman Empire in Britain.
- Hadrian's Wall stretched from the Solway Firth to the River Tyne - roughly the border area between England and Scotland.
- The Romans introduced a system of law, new architecture, and the Latin language to Britain.
- The Romans left Britain around AD 410 as the Roman Empire was collapsing.
In depth
Britain was first settled by hunter-gatherers who crossed a land bridge from continental Europe around 10,000 years ago. Over thousands of years, these early peoples developed farming, built settlements, and created remarkable structures like Stonehenge. The Stone Age gave way to the Bronze Age, when people learned to work with metals, and then the Iron Age, when iron tools and weapons transformed society. By the time the Romans arrived, Britain was home to various Celtic tribes with their own languages, customs, and leaders.
The Roman invasion in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius was a turning point. The Romans occupied Britain for nearly 400 years, building a network of roads, towns, and fortifications that shaped the landscape for centuries. One of their most famous constructions is Hadrian's Wall, built around AD 122 to defend the northern border of the empire. The Romans brought their legal system, Latin language, and engineering expertise. When they withdrew around AD 410, they left behind an infrastructure that influenced Britain's development long after their departure.
For the earliest period, remember the Romans invaded in AD 43 and stayed until around AD 410, building roads, towns and Hadrian's Wall in the north, but never conquering what is now Scotland. Stone Age and Iron Age Britain came before them, and Anglo-Saxon settlers arrived after they left.