Difference between revisions of "Hadrian's Wall"
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| − | '''Hadrian's Wall''' was a wall built by the Romans across [[Britain]] in the 2nd century AD, to defend their northern frontier from [[Picts|Pictish]] incursions. | + | '''Hadrian's Wall''' was a wall built by the Romans across [[Britain]] in the 2nd century AD, to defend their northern frontier from [[Picts|Pictish]] incursions (an alternative theory is that is was not primarily a defensive structure but a tax barrier). |
It stretched across northern England from [[Wallsend]] in the east to [[Bowness on Solway]] in the west, and formed the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, though a subsequent temporary northward advance took them as far as the [[Antonine Wall]]. | It stretched across northern England from [[Wallsend]] in the east to [[Bowness on Solway]] in the west, and formed the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, though a subsequent temporary northward advance took them as far as the [[Antonine Wall]]. | ||
| − | After the fall of the [[Roman Empire]], much of the stone from the wall was taken and reused building local [[churches]] and abbeys, as well as housing and farmsteads. | + | After the fall of the [[Roman Empire]], much of the stone from the wall was taken and reused building local [[churches]] and abbeys, as well as housing and farmsteads. However, Roman remains exist at points along the route - including a substantial length in the central, upland section. |
[[Category:Ancient Rome]] | [[Category:Ancient Rome]] | ||
Revision as of 11:28, June 16, 2008
Hadrian's Wall was a wall built by the Romans across Britain in the 2nd century AD, to defend their northern frontier from Pictish incursions (an alternative theory is that is was not primarily a defensive structure but a tax barrier).
It stretched across northern England from Wallsend in the east to Bowness on Solway in the west, and formed the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, though a subsequent temporary northward advance took them as far as the Antonine Wall.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, much of the stone from the wall was taken and reused building local churches and abbeys, as well as housing and farmsteads. However, Roman remains exist at points along the route - including a substantial length in the central, upland section.