THE ROMAN TIMES IN BRITISH HISTORY
In the early days of history (50-450) England was known as
Britain and the people who lived there were the Britons. There were no big
towns on the British Isles at that time. People lived in small villages
along the rivers or near the sea. The Britons caught fish, grew wheat and
had many pigs, cows and sheep in the meadows near the rivers and on the
sides of the mountains. Later they learned to make things of wool and metal
and sold them to the people who came across the sea.
The Romans with Julius Caesar at the head invaded the British Isles and
forced the population to pay tribute.
The Romans kept their armies in Britain. They built roads and had the
country under control.
They protected themselves from the attacks of the Britons by the walls
which they built across Britain.
You can see the Roman walls in Britain even now. Here is Hadrian's Wall
which was built by the emperor Hadrian in the year 122.
The Romans left the country only in the second half of the 5th century.
The Roman armies were called back to Italy where they defended the country
from barbaric peoples.
Roman—римский; n римлянин
British Isles—Британские острова
an invader—завоеватель
to protect—защищать
the Britons—бритты
to invade—завоевывать
to force—заставлять
population—население
tribute—дань
to keep (kept;kept)—держать
a road—дорога
a century—век
barbaric—варварский