Collected here is a complete course on Roman (and Prehistoric) Coventry and Warwickshire. The lessons have been placed below in a roughly chronological order, but feel free to use these in any order or combination as best suits your teaching. These resources are being continually updated but at present include teaching notes and PowerPoint presentations for each topic, along with some additional exercises and handouts for some topics. These resources have been created by Dr Paul Grigsby with help from postgraduate students Giles Penman, Jacqui Butler and Elizabeth Lockwood from the University of Warwick, and are FREE to use.

These resources have been created to be used by you. We would be very grateful for any feedback on how you use these resources and any comments you have about them. These resources are designed to be used, so constructive feedback will be listened to and acted upon to make these resources as usable and useful as possible. If you have used these resources, please give us some feedback here.

As already stated, much of the information on this site has been taken from open access sites and has been checked for accuracy, but if you have any concerns or suggestions please contact Dr Paul Grigsby via this Feedback Form.

Sign up here to join the Roman Coventry and Warwickshire Project: For extra material, online sessions and prizes

For access to additional material such as our Travelling Artefact Collection, to special Warwick staff and student-led online and in-school sessions, and to take part in the creative Coventry challenge (top prize of £500 for your school) email Dr Paul Grigsby at paul dot grigsby at warwick dot ac dot uk to register your school into the Roman Coventry Project. All we require is a bit of feedback on how you have used the resources so we can keep on improving.

Prehistory

1. Prehistoric Britain: A Land of Invasions

This lesson looks at the history of humans in Britain and Warwickshire from the dawn of Prehistory down through the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age. We focus in on evidence of prehistory from Warwickshire and Coventry.

PowerPoint: Prehistoric Britain: A Land of Invasions

Teachers Notes

Handout

2. The Iron Age

This lesson focuses on the Iron Age in Britain and Warwickshire and on the tribes who inhabited our local area. Evidence is given of Iron Age sites at the University of Warwick and we look at Meon Hill Fort in the southwest of the county.

PowerPoint: The Iron Age

Teachers Notes

Handout

Interactions

3. The Roman Conquest of Britain

An overview of the coming of the Romans and the invasions of Britain in 55 and 54BC by Julius Caesar, and the invasion in AD43 ordered by the emperor Claudius. We look at how the Britons reacted.

PowerPoint: The Roman Conquest of Britain

Teachers Notes

Handout

4. The Romans reach Warwickshire

This lesson looks at what the Romans did once they reached the west Midlands and how the Lunt Roman Fort was strategically placed near a crossroads of two major Roman roadways. Roman sites in Warwickshire are then discussed.

PowerPoint: The Romans reach Warwickshire

Teachers Notes

Handouts

5. Caratacus: Chief of the Catuvellauni

This lesson looks at the background of the Catuvellauni tribe and their on-off relations with Rome. We focus especially on the coinage of the Catuvellaunian rulers and the heroic figure of Caratacus, looking at how Caratacus was seized upon as a later national hero.

PowerPoint: Caratacus: Chief of the Catuvellauni

Teachers Notes

6: Cartimandua: Queen of the Brigantes

Here we discuss the Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes, her relation with Rome and how this is shown to us by the Roman historian Tacitus. We learn how her story interweaves with that of Caratacus.

PowerPoint: Cartimandua: Queen of the Brigantes

Teachers Notes

Tacitus on Cartimandua

7. Boudica: The Warrior Queen

In this lesson we discuss the history of Boudica's revolt, from relations between her tribe the Iceni and Rome, the story of her revolt as told by classical historians (and their differing accounts), down to her eventual death at the Battle of Watling Street. This lesson also discusses the role Lunt Fort may have played in the aftermath of the Battle.

PowerPoint: Boudica the Warrior Queen

Teachers Notes

Tacitus on Boudica

Cassius Dio on Boudica

The Roman Army

8. Lunt Roman Fort

We are lucky in Coventry to possess unique archaeological feature - Lunt Roman Fort in Baginton. This lesson looks at the history and development of the fort, its possible use and link to Boudica, and discusses some of its major features such as the mysterious and unique gyrus. We look also into the reconstruction of the fort.

PowerPoint: Lunt Roman Fort

Teachers Notes

9. The Roman Army

This lesson looks in detail at the make-up of the Roman army. How were legions organised and what roles did different men have within the Roman army? We also look at armour and weaponry.

PowerPoint: The Roman Army

Teachers Notes

Handout

Life and Diversity in Roman Britain

10. Roman Women living in the Province of Britain

This lesson looks at the evidence of women in Roman Britain through examining a number of unique monuments, artefacts and inscriptions including jewellery and funerary monuments.

PowerPoint: Roman Women living in the Province of Britain

Teachers Notes

11. Women in Roman Britain: Diversity and Religion

This lesson looks at three case studies of women in Roman Britain linked to religion. These include an altar dedicated by one Diodora; the tombstone of Regina of Arbeia; and a curse tablet for one Tretia Maria.

PowerPoint: Women in Roman Britain: Diversity and Religion

Teachers Notes

Handout

12. Diversity in Roman Britain

In this lesson we discuss the evidence for ethnic diversity among the population of Roman Britain. Evidence comes from Hadrian's Wall among other places for Africans and Syrians among others. This lesson also discusses the controversy such claims for ethnic diversity have given rise to.

PowerPoint: Diversity in Roman Britain

Teachers Notes

13. Diversity in the Roman Army

In this lesson we discuss the evidence for ethnic diversity among the soldiers of the Roman army posted to Britain. Evidence comes from Hadrian's Wall but we also discuss the XX Legion as an example of diverse roots in the soldiery on these shores during the Roman period.

PowerPoint: Diversity in the Roman Army

Teachers Notes