Country Villas & Farming Flashcards
What does archaeological evidence show about Britons civilisation before the Romans arrived?
They were very good metalworkers, carpenters, weavers and farmers
Where did most inhabitants of Roman Britain live?
In the countryside. A typical small farm belonging to a native Briton would have provided for the basic needs of his family and slaves, with a little surplus left over for trade
Explain the housing 30 years after the Roman invasion of Britain
Simple villas began to appear in the countryside:
- build of timber and wattle and daub
- 4 or 5 rooms (sometimes linked by a corridor)
- tiled or thatched roofs
They were often found on the sites of British roundhouses, suggesting that the native Britons may have attempted to imitate the Romans’ buildings to win their favour. They would have been difficult and expensive to heat, but provided greater comfort and privacy
Explain the housing later in the Roman invasion of Britain
Larger villas often contained the following features:
- large colonnades
- formal gardens
- set of baths (tepidarium and caldarium)
- mosaics
- under-floor heating
They also had workshops, barns, living spaces for farm labourers and animal sheds. The owner would look for both attractive surroundings and practical advantages when choosing the location e.g., protection from cold north and east winds or a supply of fresh water
What did the animals in farms provide
- food
- wool
- leather clothing
- fertiliser
- transport
- security
- bone tools
Give example of fruit/veg brought over by the Romans
Cherries and peas
What did the Romans think of Britannia
A strange and distant land, on the edge of the known world, despite having a highly developed civilisation
Did Romans acknowledge the Britons in their writing?
No
What did a typical British house consist of?
- single circular room where the whole family ate, slept, worked and lived
- no windows and small door, so little light
- heated and lit by central fire on hearth
- no chimney, so may have been smokey
Main crops grown in Britain
- wheat
- oats
- rye
- barley
How can we tell what crops were grown in Britain?
Archaeologists have found seeds that were accidentally charred, and so preserved in the soil
Main animals in British farms
- cattle
- sheep
- goats
- pigs
- dogs
- hens
- geese
- bees
- horses
What did villa owners commonly produce?
- leather
- meat / honey
- timber
What did villa owners normally trade their produce for?
- shellfish
- salt
- wine
- pottery
- ironware
Who would supervise a large villa?
A farm manager or bailiff, who was often a slave
