100 - 399 AD
'Pax Romana': roads, villas & taxation . . .
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Consolidation of Roman presence in Britain . . . temporary penetration to Strathclyde & the Lothians . . . much of Scotland & all Ireland un-affected . . . Pictish peoples in north & east 'Scotland' & the 'Scots' in Ireland (!?) . . . construction of Hadrian's Wall (begun 122): Empire's northern border . . . major road building . . . occupiers turn settlers . . . villas, estates & new towns abound (Romans introduce the idea of 'town': Celtic settlements based around hill forts or agricultural settlements ) . . . period of prosperity 2nd & early 3rd century . . . 3rd century autonomy of 'Britannia' from Rome . . . later 3rd century incursions by Saxon raiders (Saxon shore: East Anglia to Isle of Wight) . . . late 4th century raids from Ireland & Pictish Scotland into northern England (367) . . . weakening 'Roman' influence, reduced garrison strengths . . . Christianity becomes 'state' religion (391) . . .
Benign climate * some severe winters * high-frequency of anticyclonic blocking * during early / mid Roman era, climatic conditions probably optimal * temperature levels approaching values experienced roughly a 1000 years later * towards end 3rd Century & almost certainly 4th Century: climate reversal * increased storminess * possible sudden cooling phase. [ I can't believe the Roman Empire would have concerned themselves with these Atlantic islands if the climate had been as unsettled as it was both before and since this period. High-status villas were built at elevations in southern & central England that we simply wouldn't consider now (e.g. Salisbury Plain, Cotswolds); also, wine production was apparently common across southern & central/lowland areas of Britain. ]				Weather Log
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