What Was Life Actually Like In Ancient Roman London? | Life and Death Roman London

History Hit・2 minutes read

Roman London was a mercantile trading post on the River Thames, crucial for importing and exporting goods, with evidence of significant Roman structures like the London Bridge and Roman Amphitheater. The city thrived in commerce and culture, but faced calamities like fires, insurrections, and declines, ultimately ending with the cessation of Roman Administration in AD 410, leaving a lasting legacy on London's identity and history.

Insights

  • Roman London, established around AD50, was a bustling Mercantile Trading Post on the River Thames, exporting materials like wool and tin while importing goods such as wine, olive oil, and glass, showcasing its pivotal role in ancient trade networks.
  • The discovery of artifacts like wax writing tablets from excavations in Roman London provides valuable insights into daily life and trade practices in the city, shedding light on its resilience post-devastating events like the AD60 revolt and the deliberate fire in the early 2nd Century, emphasizing the city's ability to recover and thrive amidst challenges.

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Recent questions

  • What was the significance of London Bridge in Roman times?

    London Bridge was constructed by the Romans as a crucial crossing point due to its strategic location for trade and road networks. It played a vital role in connecting different parts of Roman London and facilitating the flow of goods and people across the River Thames. The bridge's construction reflected the Romans' focus on infrastructure development to support their trading activities and urban expansion in the city.

  • How did Roman London recover after the revolt led by Boudica?

    After the devastating revolt led by Boudica in AD60, London quickly recovered with new investments in key infrastructure like the Roman Amphitheater and public bath complexes. The city's revival post-revolt was evident through recovered artifacts, such as tablets mentioning London and trade orders, indicating its reestablishment as a thriving trading hub. The resilience and adaptability of Roman London's inhabitants played a crucial role in the city's recovery and subsequent growth.

  • What were the key attractions in Roman London during its golden age?

    Roman London entered a golden age characterized by attractions like games and public baths. The Roman Amphitheater, discovered in 1987, could hold 7,000 people and hosted events like animal fights and gladiatorial combats, providing entertainment for the city's inhabitants. Public baths were also a significant experience in Roman London, offering different rooms for bathing and socializing, reflecting the importance of leisure and communal activities in the city's cultural life.

  • How did the London Wall circuit contribute to the city's defense?

    The London Wall circuit, 3.2 km long, was built by Septimius Severus using ragstone from quarries 127 km away in the Medway Valley. It featured five levels of stone and a tile bonding layer for earthquake resistance, enhancing the city's defenses against external threats. The circuit's strategic route surrounding London, from Tower Hill to the river, provided a fortified barrier that helped protect Roman London from potential invasions and attacks.

  • What insights do artifacts from Roman London provide about its inhabitants?

    Artifacts found in Roman London, such as fine mosaics, makeup canisters, and skeletal remains, offer insights into the luxurious lifestyles and practices of high-status individuals in the city. These artifacts reflect the diverse origins and social classes of Roman London's population, showcasing the cultural richness and material wealth present in the city during its heyday. The discovery of these artifacts contributes to our understanding of the daily lives, customs, and social structures of Roman London's inhabitants.

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Summary

00:00

Roman London: Mercantile Hub and Trading Post

  • Roman London was established around AD50 as a Mercantile Trading Post on a gravel terrace above the River Thames, expanding onto Ludgate Hill and Tower Hill in the following centuries.
  • The River Thames in Roman times was much wider, extending almost a kilometer into the city, with no embankments narrowing it.
  • Juno Monitas, associated with money and trading, was represented by a statue on top of the Bank of England, linking back to the Roman mint in Rome.
  • London served as a crucial Emporium for trade, exporting materials like wool and tin while importing goods like wine, olive oil, and glass.
  • London Bridge was constructed by the Romans as a significant crossing point due to its strategic location for trade and road networks.
  • The Warbrook, a vital waterway in Roman London, divided the city and provided archaeologists with valuable insights into the city's past.
  • Excavations from the Warbrook revealed a plethora of Roman artifacts, including wax writing tablets that shed light on daily life and trade in Roman London.
  • After the devastating revolt led by Boudica in AD60, London quickly recovered with new investments in key infrastructure like the Roman Amphitheater and public bath complexes.
  • Recovered artifacts, like tablets mentioning London and trade orders, indicate the city's revival post-revolt and its reestablishment as a trading hub.
  • Roman London saw a mix of merchants and soldiers, with evidence of military presence in the city alongside monumental buildings like the Basilica and Forum.

15:35

"Roman London: Calamities, Forts, and Recovery"

  • In the early 2nd Century, a series of calamities struck Roman London, including a major fire that burnt down the entire city.
  • The fire was a deliberate torching event, burning the front of buildings, not the backs.
  • Following the troubles, the Roman military built the Cripplegate Fort in the 820s as a response to the insurrection and the burning of Roman London.
  • The Cripplegate Fort is an early Roman fort, plain card-shaped, with internal towers visible in its foundations.
  • Roman London quickly recovered from the troubles, entering a golden age with attractions like games and public baths.
  • The Roman Amphitheater in London, discovered in 1987, could hold 7,000 people and hosted events like animal fights and gladiatorial combats.
  • Public baths were a key experience in Roman London, with different rooms like tepidarium, caldarium, and frigidarium for bathing.
  • Roman London's population in the 2nd century was diverse, with around 30,000 inhabitants from various places and social classes.
  • Burials in Roman London were mostly outside the city walls, with different burial practices reflecting the diverse origins and statuses of the deceased.
  • The L wall of Roman London, built in AD 193 by Septimius Severus after defeating Clodius Albinus, served as a message to the people of London after a civil war battle.

30:36

London Wall Circuit: Ancient Temple Discovery & Artifacts

  • The London Wall circuit, 3.2 km long, was built by Septimius Severus using ragstone from quarries 127 km away in the Medway Valley, with five levels of stone and a tile bonding layer for earthquake resistance.
  • The circuit's route starts at Tower Hill Tube Station, goes to London Wall, Guildhall, Museum of London, Old Bailey, and back to the river, surrounding London.
  • In the third century, structures like a subterranean temple were built within London's walls, including a temple to Mithras under the Bloomberg European headquarters.
  • The temple to Mithras was discovered post-World War II, with the head of Mithras found in 1954, dating the temple to around 250 AD.
  • Mithraism was a secretive cult, with initiates sworn to secrecy, and worship likely involved a sunken, windowless space lit by candles and columns.
  • The temple was likely used by men in the Army, civil servants, and merchants, offering spiritual power and networking opportunities.
  • Worship in the temple focused on the cult statue of Mithras, with dramatic theatrical effects, including curtains, lighting, and symbolic animal imagery.
  • The temple was later remodeled around 320 AD, rededicated to Bacchus, with cult statues buried to clear the space for new worship.
  • Nearby structures associated with the temple include a possible changing room and the residence of a person who may have built the temple.
  • Artifacts found in Roman London, like fine mosaics, makeup canisters, and skeletal remains, provide insights into the luxurious lifestyles and practices of high-status individuals in the city.

44:49

Roman London: Cultural ties, decline, and legacy.

  • A Roman woman with strong cultural ties was buried in the Eastern Cemetery in late Roman London, showcasing the continued expression of community traditions among wealthy individuals with Continental connections.
  • The decline of Roman London between the late third and early fifth centuries was marked by events like the naval operation against piracy led by Corus, a Roman usurper who minted coins and built defenses to protect his breakaway empire, ultimately being assassinated in 8293.
  • Constantius Cloris, the junior Emperor, restored London to the Roman Imperial fold, preventing its sack by Germanic Frankish mercenaries, as depicted on the Aris Medallion, but the city faced a gradual decline with the disappearance of the port and abandonment of large stone buildings.
  • Roman London's history ends in AD 410 with the cessation of Roman Administration across the Western Roman Empire, leaving London without protection or governance, highlighting the importance of understanding its Roman legacy in shaping the city's identity and history.
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