Lesson VI

The Roman Conquest (55 B.C. - 407 A.D.)

Prehistory of any country comes to an end and its history begins at the point when people begin to record the events of their life. History, thus, is a kind of a „story" which is being told and retold through generations. Now its the history of Britain and the famous Julius Caesar who first invaded Britain in 55 - 54 B.C.

At this time Caesar, the Roman Consul, was governor of Yaul, the territories corresponding to modern France, and he needed victories to impress Rome and money toreward his legions. Late in the summer of 55 B.C. he carried out a raid across the Channel. The expedition was not too successful that time. The following year Caesar returned and had defeated several tribes;. He established an annual tribute to be paid by Britons to Rome and then departed, having spent in England three months altogether.

In fact, the tribute was never paid after the year 52 B.C. and for a century after Caesar's expedition, Britain was almost completely forgotten in Rome. Nevertheless, merchants kept coming to the island from Yaul, and the imperial coinage was already accepted.

It was under the Roman Emperor Claudius that the actual occupation of the island took place. In 43 A.D. Claudius sent over to Britain an expedition of about 50 000 men. After a series of small battles along the Thames the resistance of native tribes was broken. This time the Romans had come to stay.

Active Vocabulary

1. to record -записывать

2. event - событие

3. to retell - пересказывать

4. to invade - вторгаться

Tribute – дань, оброк

To impress - производить впечатление

The Channel – пролив Ла-Манш

Annual – ежегодный

To defeat – покорять

Corresponding – соответствующий

Exercises:

I. Read and translate the following words. Mind the pronunciation.

Conquest, Caesar, invade, reward, successful, returned, tribute, altogether, completely, nevertheless, merchants, coinage, battle, resistance, tribe.

2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and word combinations:

At the point; through generations; to impress; the expedition was not successful; an annual tribute; altogether; nevertheless; merchants kept coming; the actual occupation; native tribes.

Make up a plan of the text in the form of questions.

Retell the text, using expressions given in task 1.

Notes:

1. comes to an end - заканчивается

2. through generations - в течение многих поколений

3. to reward his legions – для вознаграждения легионерам

4. the tribute was never paid – дань никогда и не выплачивалась

5. merchants kept coming – купцы продолжали приезжать