User:Ulysses1975/Maps of the History of Britain

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Protohistoric Britain
Protohistory refers to the period of transition from prehistory to history, when a civilisation has not developed writing; but is referred to in the writings of other civilisations.

The Massaliote Periplus
The earliest known reference to Britain, was in a work known as the Massaliote Periplus; a merchants' handbook that possibly dates to the 6th century BCE. Although this work is now lost, parts of it were preserved by the Roman poet Avienus, in his work Ora Maritima that was completed during the 4th century CE. It included reference to the peoples of Ierne (Ireland), and Albion (Britain); who traded with the Oestrymnides, thought to inhabit the area of modern Portugal.

Pytheas
The second known reference to Britain, was in a work by the Greek explorer Pytheas, from the colony of Massilia (Marseille) which dates to the 4th century BCE. Although Pytheas' work is also lost, reference is made to it in the works of Strabo in the Geography ; and Pliny the Elder in the Natural History.

Britain c. 50 BCE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 50BCE

Roman Britain
The end of the Iron Age in Britain, and the beginning of Britain within the Roman empire; is often given as 43CE, when Claudius commenced the conquest of Britain; although much of the British Isles did not become part of the Roman empire at this point, and some never did. "In reality it [43CE] marks just one stage in a much longer process of integration of parts of Britain with a wider European world."

However, from the mid-first century BCE there was regular contact between Britain and the Roman empire. During Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul it is recorded, by Caesar, that in 55BCE: "Despite these facts [the end of the campaigning season, and the severity of the Gaulish winter], Caesar changed his course to set out for Britain, aware as he was that our enemies in almost all our wars with the Gauls had received reinforcements from that quarter." Caesar also records that shortly after he began preparations for the invasion of Britain, his intentions became known to some of the peoples of Britain through trade links.

As a result of the increasing contact between the people of Britain (particularly in the south-eastern regions) and the Roman empire, following Caesar's invasions of Britain in 55BCE; the Penguin History of Britain series now uses 54BCE, rather than 43CE, to mark the beginning of Britain's integration into the Roman world.

Britain c. 30 BCE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 30BCE

Britain c. 20 BCE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 20BCE

Britain c. 15 BCE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 15BCE

Britain c. 7 BCE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 7BCE

Britain c. 1 CE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 1CE

Britain c. 15 CE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 15CE

Britain c. 25 CE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 25CE

Britain c. 40 CE
See also: Full size Map of Britain c. 40CE