The City in Roman Britain

Types of Settlements

• Roman

– Colonae

– Municipia

– London

• Romano-Celtic

– Oppida Civitas Capitals

– Vici

– Market towns

Conveyed rights

Some self-

government

Tombstone of Julia Velva, York

Economy -Trade

Imports

• Olive oil

• Fish sauce

• Fine pottery

• Wine

• Marble

Exports

• Iron

• Lead, silver

• Wool

Economy – Industry

Mostly in Country or Small Towns

• Weaving – Winchester,

Caistor-by-Norwich, Great

Chesterford

• Mosaics – Cirencester,

Chesterton, Dorchester,

Brough-on-Humber

• Pewter – Camerton,

Nettleton Shrub

• Smiths -widespread

• Pottery – New Forest,

Oxford areas; Poole

Comparative City Sizes

Size - Population

1. London 50-60,000

2. Cirencester

3. Verulamium (St. Albans) ~10,000

4. Wroxeter

City Locations

Ports London, Chichester,

Colchester Dorchester,

Exeter, Lincoln,

Manchester

Other Canterbury, Cirencester,

Gloucester, Leicester,

Lincoln, Silchester,

Verulamium(St. Albans),

Winchester, Wroxeter, York

Civitas CapitalsAldborough Brigantes

Brough on Humber Parisi Vicus

Caerhun Deceangi Vicus to Civitas

Caerwent Silures

Caistor St. Edmonds Iceni

Canterbury Cantiaci Oppidum to Civitas

Carmathen Demetae Vicus to Civitas

Chichester Regnenses

Cirencester Dobunii Vicus to Civitas

Dorchester Durotriges

Exeter Dumnonii Fortress to Civitas

Leicester Coritani Vexillation fortress to

Civitas

Silchester Atrebates Oppidum to Civitas

Widford/Chelmsford Trinovantes

Winchester Belgae

Wroxeter Cornovii

Caerwent-Civitas Capital

Lincoln-Fortress

Lincoln-Colonia

Lincoln-Forum

Lincoln-

Vicinity

York

York

Roman York ~400 CE

Roman Walls - existing

Multangular Tower

Roman

Ivory Bangle Lady

Reconstruction

Objects from Burial

Bone openwork mount Blue glass necklace

Soror ave vivas in deo

Chester Walls

Wroxeter

Wroxeter

extent from geophysical

survey

Central Area

Forum

Basilica - Interior

Basilica

“Old Works – Remains of Basilica

Baths – Interior – Hot Room

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London