Roman Britain
The Romans ruled Britain for nearly 400 years. The test asks when they came, what they built, and why they left.
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What the test asks about this period
Britain was not empty before the Romans. Tribes we call the Celts lived here through the Iron Age, and Stone Age people built Stonehenge long before that.
Julius Caesar came twice, in 55 BC and 54 BC, but did not stay. The real conquest began under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43.
You are unlikely to get many Roman questions in one test. The dates are easy marks, so they are worth learning first.
Before the Romans
- Stone Age people built Stonehenge in Wiltshire. It is one of the oldest monuments in Europe.
- The Celts came from central Europe in the Iron Age, around 750 BC.
- People lived in tribes. There was no single country called Britain.
The conquest
- Julius Caesar came in 55 BC and again in 54 BC. He did not conquer the island.
- The Emperor Claudius invaded in AD 43. This is the date the test asks for.
- Boudicca, queen of the Iceni tribe, led a revolt against Roman rule. She lost, and is still remembered.
- The Romans never took what is now Scotland.
Test yourself on British history
Thirteen history questions with the answers explained, then a full mock test when you are ready.
British history questionsHadrian's Wall
- The Emperor Hadrian ordered a wall across northern England in AD 122.
- It marked the northern edge of Roman Britain and kept out the tribes beyond it.
- Much of it still stands, and it is a World Heritage Site.
What the Romans left
- Roads, many of them straight, and still followed by modern routes.
- Towns, including London, which the Romans called Londinium.
- Baths, forts and villas, some of which you can still visit.
- Christianity began to spread in Britain during the Roman period.
Why they left
- Roman soldiers were pulled back around AD 410 to defend Rome itself.
- Britain was left to look after itself.
- Anglo-Saxon peoples from northern Europe then settled across much of the country.
Practice questions on this period
Here are 4 questions from our bank. The correct answer is marked, and under each one is a short reason.
Question 1. In what year did the Roman Emperor Claudius invade Britain?
Topic: British History
- AD 43(correct answer)
- AD 55
- AD 122
- AD 410
Why: The Emperor Claudius invaded in AD 43. The Romans then stayed for nearly 400 years.
Question 2. What was Hadrian's Wall built for?
Topic: British History
- To mark the boundary between England and Scotland after the Acts of Union
- To defend the northern frontier of Roman Britain from tribes to the north(correct answer)
- To channel water from the north of England to London
- To separate Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in northern England
Why: Hadrian's Wall was built across northern England to keep out tribes from what is now Scotland. Parts of it still stand.
Question 3. Who were the Celts?
Topic: British History
- Roman settlers who colonised Britain in 55 BC
- Iron Age peoples who came to Britain from central Europe around 750 BC(correct answer)
- Anglo-Saxon invaders from Scandinavia
- Viking traders who settled in northern Britain
Why: The Celts lived in Britain before the Romans came. They arrived from central Europe in the Iron Age.
Question 4. What happened to the Roman province of Britannia?
Topic: British History
- It was conquered by the Saxons in 410 AD, who expelled all Romans and established a new Germanic kingdom
- Roman troops withdrew around 410 AD, leaving Britannia to defend itself; Germanic Anglo-Saxon peoples subsequently settled across much of it(correct answer)
- It was gradually absorbed into the Frankish Empire after Roman withdrawal and became part of medieval France
- It survived intact as a Christian Romano-British kingdom until the Norman Conquest in 1066
Why: Roman soldiers left Britain around AD 410 to defend Rome. Anglo-Saxons from northern Europe settled here afterwards.
These are not the real exam questions, which are not published. Ours are written from the same official handbook.
Where to go next
- Next period: The Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings
- All history questions: British History Questions
- The full chapter: British History study guide
- Drill this topic: practice by topic
History is the largest topic in the test. You need 18 out of 24 overall, so it is worth more of your time than any other period.
Common questions
When did the Romans invade Britain?
The Emperor Claudius invaded in AD 43. Julius Caesar had come earlier, in 55 BC and 54 BC, but he did not conquer the island.
Why was Hadrian's Wall built?
To defend the northern edge of Roman Britain from the tribes to the north. It was begun in AD 122 on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian.
How long did the Romans stay in Britain?
Nearly 400 years, from AD 43 until about AD 410, when the soldiers were withdrawn to defend Rome.
Who lived in Britain before the Romans?
Iron Age tribes we call the Celts, who came from central Europe around 750 BC. Older peoples built Stonehenge long before them.
Practise the whole test
24 questions across all six topics, marked against the real pass mark of 18.
Take a free mock test