Year 4 - History
How far religion changed under Roman rule
The Romans: what impact did the Romans have on Britain?
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn how and why Claudius invaded Britain, Boudica's resistance to Roman rule, and how far various aspects of life in Britain changed under Roman rule. The unit is focused on the second-order concepts of change and continuity.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how far religion changed in Britain after the Celts were conquered.
Key Notes
- Like the Ancient Romans, whose beliefs had been influenced by the Ancient Greeks, the Celtic people were polytheistic.
- In Britain, the Ancient Romans introduced their own gods and wiped out the druids (Celtic religious leaders) in 60CE.
- Elsewhere the Ancient Romans were tolerant of Celtic religion, allowing it to continue alongside some of their gods.
- Evidence shows us that religious change was slow, and often in combination with existing beliefs.
Vocabulary To Learn
- polytheism: when people believe in many gods and goddesses, it is called polytheism
- barbarian: a barbarian was what the Ancient Romans called anyone who did not follow Greek or Roman traditions
- druids: the druids were priests of the Celtic religion who believed they could communicate with their gods and goddesses
- ancestor: an ancestor is someone's family member from the past
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may gain the impression that the Ancient Romans destroyed all aspects of Celtic worship.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Like the Ancient Romans, whose beliefs had been influenced by the Ancient Greeks, the Celtic people were polytheistic. In Britain, the Ancient Romans introduced their own gods and wiped out the druids (Celtic religious leaders) in 60CE.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'polytheism'
when people believe in many gods and goddesses, it is called polytheism.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may gain the impression that the Ancient Romans destroyed all aspects of Celtic worship. Correction: Remind pupils that although the druids were wiped out, the worship of Celtic gods was tolerated as long as Ancient Roman ones were also respected.
More Lessons In This Unit
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