Resource created by Kirklees Museums and Galleries
Curriculum links: KS2 History: “the Roman Empire and its impact on Britain”
Context:
Roman Britain lasted from around 43 AD to around 410 AD. It began with the invasion and settlement by Roman Emperor Claudius. At first the armies faced resistance, such as that from Boudica, the queen of the Iceni tribe. She led a huge rebellion in 60 AD and destroyed Roman towns like Colchester, London, and St Albans. The Romans were well-trained and well-armed, and they quickly took control of southern Britain once the rebellion was defeated.
The Romans brought many changes to Britain. They built roads linking key forts around the country, stone buildings, public baths, and new towns, including those at Londinium (now London) and Eboracum (now York).
Life in Roman Britain was about assimilation: the mixing of Roman and local ways of living. People wore Roman clothes, used Latin words, and followed Roman laws.
By around 410 AD, Roman soldiers left Britain to protect other parts of the empire. Roman rule ended, but they left behind a rich legacy that we can still see today in buildings, roads, and even some words we use.
Learning objectives:
- Understand the impact of Roman rule in Kirklees
- Identify key features of life in Roman Kirklees
- Describe the Romans fort at Slack
- Explain what evidence can tell us about the Romans in Kirklees
Discussion and Activity Ideas:
- Literacy: Describe the key features of the Roman fort at Slack
- Reading: As a class, read Empire’s End – A Roman Story by Leila Rasheed
- Disciplinary Skills: Study the sources above, make inferences about the ancient Romans
- Art: Create and label the Roman Fort at Slack. You may use clay or recycled materials
- Heritage is…
Citizenship: What makes a civilisation or community great?
Democracy: Should countries be allowed to invade and settle in other countries?
British Values: How did people feel about migrants coming to live in Kirklees? Are there any similarities with today?
EDI: What did it mean to be Roman in the past? Were the settlers at Slack Roman?
Health: How did ancient Romans deal with sanitation and housing, how does this compare with modern methods?
Religion and ethics: Is it right to try and change other people’s religion?
SRE: How are women in power treated? In the past and today?
PSHE: What makes a civilisation or community great?
Climate: Did Roman construction, like forts and roads, have a positive or negative impact on the local environment?
Careers: What job opportunities are in the British Army today?
Social Action: Create a project to welcome and support new migrants or asylum seekers in your local community
Organisation URL: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/museums-and-galleries/index.aspx
Glossary:
- Archaeologist – Someone who studies buildings, graves, tools and other objects of people who lived in the past
- Artefact - An object made by a human that is historically important
- Auxiliary – A soldier who was not a Roman citizen
- Battalion – A large group of soldiers, it was bigger than a squad or century (100 soldiers)
- Civilian – A person who is not in the military
- Deposed - To be removed from power, suddenly and forcefully
- Garrisoned – To station troops in a particular place
- Legionary – A soldier in the Roman army
- Tribe – A group of people who live in the same region and share the same leader