Unit 2 Agricola (40 - 93 ad)

This theme is dealt with in a lot of historical sources. The following citation is to illustrate this:

«Agricola was a Roman statesman and soldier who, as Roman governor of Britain, conquered large areas of northern England, Scotland and Wales. His life is well-known to us today because his son-in-law, the historian Tacitus, wrote a detailed biography of him which survives.

Gnaeus Julius Agricola was born on 13 July 40 AD in southern France, then part of the Roman Empire, into a high-ranking family. He began his career as a military tribune in Britain and may have participated in the crushing of Boudicca's uprising in 61 AD. During the civil war of 69 AD Agricola supported Vespasian in his successful attempt to become emperor. Agricola was appointed to command a Roman legion in Britain. He then served as governor of Aquitania (south-east France) for three years, and after a period in Rome, in 78 AD he was made governor of Britain.

As soon as he arrived, Agricola began campaigning to assert Roman authority in north Wales. According to Tacitus he crossed the Menai Straits and took Anglesey. From 79 - 80 AD, Agricola moved north to Scotland where he consolidated Roman military control and masterminded the building of a string of forts across the country from west to east. From 81 - 83 AD, Agricola campaigned north of the Forth-Clyde line and confronted the Caledonian tribes under Calgacus at the battle of Mons Graupius in 84 AD. The Caledonians were routed but despite Agricola's claim that the island had now been conquered, the threat to Roman security from the north was not completely removed.

The following year, Agricola was recalled to Rome and died there on 23 August 93 AD.»

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Assignments

1) Translate the text paying special attention to historical terminology.

2) Give Ukrainian equivalents to the following:

high-ranking; civil war; to appoint; attempt; authority; despite; threat; to consolidate; governor; to crush;

3) Give definitions to the following:

biography; statesman; to route; claim; military control; tribes

4) Answer the questions on the text:

- Where was Agricola born?

- Was Agricola made governor of Aquitania?

- What was Agricola's politics in Wales?

- What were the Caledonians?

- When was Agricola recalled to Rome?

- What did Agricola do in Scotland?

- How did Agricola begin his career?

5) Put questions to the underlined words in the text.

6) Speak on this issue adding extra information from other sources.

Interactive content:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/roman_religion_gallery.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/romanarmy_gallery.shtml

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Unit 3 Arthur (dates unknown)

This theme is dealt with in a lot of historical sources. The following citation is to illustrate this: «A mythical king of the Britons in ancient times, who may be based on a historical figure.

It is possible that the legendary Arthur is based on a historical figure, a Romano-Britain who fought the invading Anglo-Saxons in the fifth and/or sixth century and who first appears in Welsh literature. According to the ninth-century historian Nennius, this Arthur defeated the Saxons at Mount Badon in 518 and died at Camlan in 537.

The Arthur of legend is first characterised in the Welsh Mabinogi, a collection of medieval tales, and it is this literary character who is associated with the founding of the Round Table at Camelot and the search for the Holy Grail. The legend also states that Arthur will return when his country needs him. Other early references to Arthur occur in two 12th century works, a Life of St Gildas and the chronicles of Geoffrey of Monmouth.