THE ROMANS

In 55 BC Julius Caesar invaded Britain, but the real conquest of the country took place in the years 43-47 AD under Emperor Claudius.One of the first things the Romansi did was involve the conquered tribes in the administration of the province. The Romans encouraged the growth of towns near their army bases.They persuading the ruling class of Celtic aristocrats to build town dwellings, and they turned the towns into centres of vibrant commercial activity.
Town boundaries contained a regular network of streets.Most towns were surrounded by stone walls.The centre of a Roman town was the forum, or civic centre,which gave access to the basilica, or town hall.Courts of justice were held here and it could also be used for merchants' assemblies.Every town had public baths. They were open to both sexes,though at different times of day and served as healing spa and meeting place.
Roads joined the towns togethere.Romas built over 9600 kilometres of roads in Britain.
They were amazingly well built and made troop movement, and later the movement of commercial goods, much easier.The most important Roman monument built in Britain was Hadrian's Wall, constructed as a defensive fortification and customs barrier from the east coast to the west coast between England and Scotland.
The beginning of London can be dated to the Roman invasion in 43 AD.A bridge was built across the river Thames.The Roman settlement on the north side of the bridge, called Londinium, quickly became important as trading centre for goods brought up the river by boat and unloaded at wooden docks by the bridge.