## Learning Outcomes

- Identify the main stages of prehistoric Britain (Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age) and what changed in each
- Recall key prehistoric sites and what they show about early life in Britain
- Understand the main events of Roman contact and rule in Britain, including key dates and people
- Explain what the Romans introduced and why Roman rule ended in Britain

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand prehistoric Britain and the Roman period, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know that Britain was connected to mainland Europe by a land bridge during much of the Stone Age, and became permanently separated about 10,000 years ago
- Recall that farming arrived about 6,000 years ago and is linked with building monuments such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire
- Identify Skara Brae (Orkney) as a well-preserved prehistoric village and know why it is important
- Know the key Roman dates: Julius Caesar’s attempted invasion (55 BC), the successful invasion under Emperor Claudius (AD 43), and the Roman departure (AD 410)
- Identify Boudicca as queen of the Iceni and understand her resistance to Roman rule (and her modern commemoration in London)
- Know why Hadrian’s Wall was built and that the Romans did not conquer all of Scotland

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. About how many years ago did Britain become permanently separated from mainland Europe?
2. What is Stonehenge, and in which modern English county is it found?
3. What change marks the start of the Bronze Age in Britain?
4. Which Roman emperor’s invasion in AD 43 led to Roman occupation of most of Britain?
5. Who was Boudicca, and which tribe did she lead?

## Introduction

Britain’s earliest history covers thousands of years before written records. For the Life in the UK Test, you need a clear timeline: early hunter-gatherers, then farming communities, then metalworking societies—followed by the Roman occupation and what it changed.

The Roman period is especially test-relevant because it introduced roads, towns, law, and new ways of living, and it helps explain why later invasions were possible after Roman troops left.

> **Key Term: Prehistoric Britain**
> The period before written records in Britain, including the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age.

### Prehistoric Britain: the Stone Age and the arrival of farming

The first people in Britain were hunter-gatherers in the Stone Age. They hunted animals such as deer and horses and moved with seasonal patterns. A key fact for the test is that Britain was not always an island. For much of the Stone Age it was connected to mainland Europe by a land bridge, so people could travel back and forth.

Britain became permanently separated from the continent when sea levels rose and the English Channel formed, about 10,000 years ago. This separation mattered because travel and migration became harder, and communities developed in more distinct ways across the islands.

Around 6,000 years ago, a major change took place: farming arrived. The first farmers likely came from south-east Europe. Farming allowed people to settle more permanently, build stronger homes, and produce food more reliably. This is linked with the building of tombs and large stone monuments.

> **Key Term: Stone Age**
> A long period when people mainly used tools made from stone; early Stone Age communities in Britain were hunter-gatherers.

One of the best-known prehistoric monuments is Stonehenge, in what is now the county of Wiltshire in England. For the test you do not need detailed archaeological theories, but you should know that it is a prehistoric monument and is often described as a special gathering place for seasonal ceremonies.

Another important site is Skara Brae, on Orkney off the north coast of Scotland. It is known because it is the best-preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe. It helps archaeologists understand how people lived near the end of the Stone Age: it shows settled village life rather than constant movement.

> **Key Term: Stonehenge**
> A prehistoric stone monument in Wiltshire, built thousands of years ago and linked with ceremonial or gathering activities.
>
> **Test Tip:** When a question asks you to match a place to a description, use a simple link: **Skara Brae = prehistoric village (Orkney)**, **Stonehenge = monument (Wiltshire)**.

### Bronze Age and Iron Age: metals, settlements, and Celtic languages

About 4,000 years ago, people in Britain learned to make bronze. This change marks the start of the Bronze Age. Bronze is a metal alloy (made by mixing metals) that allowed people to create stronger tools and weapons than stone could provide.

In the Bronze Age, people often lived in roundhouses. A typical burial style was the round barrow—tombs built as mounds. Bronze Age metalworkers produced objects in bronze and gold, including tools, ornaments, and weapons. These details matter because the test sometimes focuses on what each age is “known for.”

> **Key Term: Bronze Age**
> The period when people learned to make and use bronze, leading to improved tools, weapons, and decorative metal objects.

The Bronze Age was followed by the Iron Age. Iron was widely available and useful for farming tools and weapons. In the Iron Age, settlements became larger and were sometimes defended by hill forts. A famous example is Maiden Castle in Dorset, England, which still survives today.

Most Iron Age people were farmers, craft workers, or warriors. The test also highlights language: Iron Age communities spoke languages from the Celtic language family. Related Celtic languages still exist today in parts of Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, which helps explain why the UK has multiple historic language traditions.

Iron Age Britain was not politically united. Instead, it was made up of different tribes, sometimes ruled by kings. Some of the first coins minted in Britain date from the Iron Age, and some coins include the names of Iron Age kings. For the test, this is often used as a marker of “the beginnings of recorded British history,” because coins can carry names and symbols.

> **Test Tip:** If a question asks “which age came first,” keep the order fixed: **Stone Age → Bronze Age → Iron Age → Romans**. Use “stone, bronze, iron” as the memory chain.

### The Romans: invasions, resistance, and Roman rule (55 BC to AD 410)

Roman contact with Britain began before the conquest. Julius Caesar led a Roman invasion attempt in 55 BC, but it was not successful and Britain remained outside the Roman Empire for nearly 100 years after that.

The successful invasion began in AD 43 under Emperor Claudius. The Romans faced resistance from some tribes but occupied almost all of Britain. However, parts of what is now Scotland were never fully conquered.

One of the most famous figures of resistance is Boudicca, queen of the Iceni in what is now eastern England. She fought against the Romans and remains an important symbol in British historical memory. A well-known modern reminder is her statue on Westminster Bridge in London, close to the Houses of Parliament.

> **Key Term: Boudicca**
> Queen of the Iceni tribe who led resistance against Roman rule in eastern Britain after the Roman invasion.

The Romans stayed in Britain for about 400 years. For the Life in the UK Test, you should focus on what this long period changed:

- **Infrastructure:** They built roads that improved travel, trade, and military movement.
- **Towns and public buildings:** Roman-style public life developed, including planned settlements and facilities.
- **Law and administration:** They introduced a structure of law and organised government in the province.
- **New plants and animals:** Roman rule is associated with new species and new farming practices.
- **Christianity:** The first Christian communities began to appear in Britain during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD.

The Roman army left Britain in AD 410 to defend other parts of the Roman Empire and did not return. For the test, treat AD 410 as the end of Roman rule in Britain and a key turning point in early British history.

> **Key Term: Roman occupation**
> The period when Britain was controlled as part of the Roman Empire, beginning with the successful invasion in AD 43 and ending when Roman troops left in AD 410.

### Hadrian’s Wall and the northern frontier

Because the Romans did not conquer all of Scotland, they created defensive frontiers. Emperor Hadrian ordered the building of Hadrian’s Wall in the north of England. Its purpose was to help keep out the Picts, who are described as ancestors of the Scottish people in simplified early-history accounts.

Hadrian’s Wall included a number of forts. Two well-known sites are Housesteads and Vindolanda, and parts of the wall can still be visited today. The area is popular with walkers and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

For the Life in the UK Test, the key point is not detailed military history, but the reason the wall exists: it shows the limit of Roman control and the need to defend the province from groups beyond Roman rule.

> **Key Term: Hadrian’s Wall**
> A defensive wall built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian in the north of England to protect Roman Britain from northern tribes, including the Picts.
>
> **Test Tip:** If you see a question linking “Romans” and “Scotland,” the safest answer is usually: **the Romans did not conquer all of Scotland and built Hadrian’s Wall in the north of England**.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Britain was connected to mainland Europe by a land bridge for much of the Stone Age
- Britain became permanently separated from the continent about 10,000 years ago
- Farming arrived in Britain about 6,000 years ago, linked with permanent settlements and monuments
- Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, likely used for gatherings and ceremonies
- Skara Brae (Orkney) is the best-preserved prehistoric village in northern Europe
- The Bronze Age began about 4,000 years ago when people learned to make bronze; roundhouses and round barrows are associated with this period
- The Iron Age followed the Bronze Age; hill forts such as Maiden Castle in Dorset were built
- Julius Caesar’s invasion attempt in 55 BC was unsuccessful
- The Romans successfully invaded under Emperor Claudius in AD 43 and stayed about 400 years
- Boudicca, queen of the Iceni, led resistance against Roman rule; her statue stands near Parliament in London
- Hadrian’s Wall was built in the north of England to defend Roman Britain and mark the frontier
- The Roman army left Britain in AD 410, ending Roman rule and leaving Britain open to later invasions

## Key Terms and Concepts

- Prehistoric Britain
- Stone Age
- Stonehenge
- Bronze Age
- Boudicca
- Roman occupation
- Hadrian’s Wall


Early Britain to 1066 - Prehistoric Britain and the Romans