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Invasion and settlement: the first city
Map showing SE England & location of Londinium Magnifing glass image

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The Romans invaded Britain in AD43 with 50 000 men. They quickly took control of the South East. The River Thames was for transport between Britain and the Continent. The Romans saw this and built the town of Londinium around the river's main crossing point.

 
Illustration of a large settlement made up of numerous round houses with conical roofs within a defensive high bank. In the foreground a navigable river runs. Magnifing glass image

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Uphall Camp, a large settlement in the Thames Valley dating to 100BC, artist's reconstruction

Who lived in Londinium?

The first Londoners were probably soldiers and administrators. They came here to rule the new province. Classicianus, the second Procurator, came from Germany. Merchants and crafts-people followed. They did building work and supplied trade goods to the new town. At first there were probably more men than women in Londinium. Some men brought their families too.

 
Photograph of a simple rectangular stone, inscribed in Latin Magnifing glass image

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Tombstone of the procurator Classicianus

What happened to the British?

The native Britons didn't leave when the Romans came. Many Britons moved to London for the new town life: to make money and perhaps improve their chances.

As time went on more Londoners would have been born here. But people also moved here from the Continent throughout the 400 years of Roman rule.
 
Illustration in expressive style. A house burns on the left, and more burning buildings can be seen in the distance. In the foreground a group of Roman soldiers with swords attack a woman, other people run away.

Boudica revolts

Excavation photo showing brick floor

Discovering invasion and settlement

collapsed wall

Evidence of invasion and settlement

Photograph of a masonry wall with a parallel ditch in front. One archaeologist sits to the right with a clipboard, the other stands behind the wall

Archaeology in action

PLine drawing of long rectangular building with wings at each end and an open veranda with pillars supporting the roof along the visible side.

Invasion and settlement: in detail

Black and white close-up photograph of a stone wall with 2 stripes of thin bricks running through

Play Londinium!
A game to play on your own or as a class

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