Britannia
Britannia is an ancient term for Great Britain, and also a female personification of the island. The name is Latin, and derives from the Greek form Prettanike or Brettaniai, which originally designated a collection of islands with individual names, including Albion or Great Britain. However, by the 1st century BC Britannia came to be used for Great Britain specifically. In AD 43 the Roman Empire began its conquest of the island, establishing a province they called Britannia, which came to encompass the parts of the island south of Caledonia (roughly Scotland). The native Celtic inhabitants of the province are known as the Britons. In the 2nd century Roman Britannia came to be personified as a goddess, armed with a spear and shield and wearing a centurion's helmet.The Latin name Britannia long survived the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the 5th century, and yielded the name for the island in most European and various other languages, including the English Britain and the modern Welsh Prydain. After centuries of declining use, the Latin form was revived during the English Renaissance as a rhetorical evocation of a British national identity. Especially following the Acts of Union in 1707, which joined the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, the personification of the martial Britannia was used as an emblem of British imperial power and unity. She has appeared consistently on British coinage ever since.
1. When was the term Britannia used for the first time?
2. Which area did it refer to?
3. Which areas did the term Britannia include for the Romans? (mention current countries)
4. How did the Romans call the native people of this new conquered area?
5. Was Roman Britannia a male or a female character?
6. Did Roman Britannia have a peaceful or a warlike appearance?
7. Apart from symbolizing Great Britain, has Roman Britannia had any other meaning for the British?
8. When did the Romans leave Britannia?
9. Is there any trace of Roman Britannia in present Britain?
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