Dominion

We investigate the lives of the people of Britain under Roman rule in the final episode of our gripping series "The Roman Invasion of Britain". After Roman control had been established, thanks to military bases such as the magnificent fort at Caerleon, the province of Britannia was relatively calm for a couple of centuries under 'Pax Romana', the Roman peace. However, whereas those at the top end of society prospered, the lives of those at the bottom of the pile could be tough and brutal. Bettany Hughes sees for herself the evidence of slave labour in the gold-mines of Dolaucothi. Bettany also traces how the Roman grip on Britain weakened as the empire's strength began to collapse.