The Romans wanted Britain's precious metals. However, they weren't just a destructive force - they built new forts, new settlements and roads. They spread their culture, language and laws.

The Romans built new towns. These were often protected by walls and there was everything a citizen of Roman Britain would need inside - houses, shops, meeting spaces, workshops, temples and bathhouses.

They also built grand country houses called 'villas'. These had many rooms, some with beautifully painted walls, mosaic floors and even central heating.

Scotland had valuable natural resources, like lead, silver and gold. The Romans could also get rich by charging the people they conquered taxes and forcing them to become slaves. But the tribes weren't about to give up their lands without a fight.

The Romans came for ‘the glory of Rome’ too. They wanted to conquer new lands and make their empire even bigger and better.

After they left, the country fell into chaos. Native tribes and foreign invaders battled each other for power. Many of the Roman towns in Britain crumbled away as people went back to living in the countryside.

After they left, the country fell into chaos. Native tribes and foreign invaders battled each other for power. Many of the Roman towns in Britain crumbled away as people went back to living in the countryside.

But even after they were gone, the Romans left their mark all over the country. They gave us new towns, plants, animals, a new religion and ways of reading and counting. Even the word ‘Britain’ came from the Romans.

When the Romans arrived in AD43, they introduced new ideas and ways of living

Many of the Roman towns in Britain crumbled away as people went back to living in the countryside.

But even after they were gone, the Romans left their mark all over the country. They gave us new towns, plants, animals, a new religion and ways of reading and counting. Even the word ‘Britain’ came from the Romans.

The Romans built new towns. These were often protected by walls.

The legionaries were the elite (very best) soldiers. A legionary had to be over 17 years old and a Roman citizen. Every new recruit had to be fighting fit - anyone who was weak or too short was rejected.

Legionaries signed up for at least 25 years' service. But if they survived their time, they were rewarded with a gift of land they could farm. Old soldiers often retired together in military towns, called ‘colonia’.

An auxiliary was a soldier who was not a Roman citizen. He was only paid a third of a legionary’s wage. Auxiliaries guarded forts and frontiers but also fought in battles, often in the front lines where it was the most dangerous.

The Romans didn't just go around building walls because they liked to. They did it to protect themselves from the unfriendly northern tribes.

Their attacks were costing the Romans time and money. So in AD122, the Emperor Hadrian ordered his soldiers to build a wall between Roman Britain and Caledonia. The Romans also built forts and stationed soldiers along the wall to keep watch and fend off any attacks.

In AD43, the full might of the Roman army landed on the beaches in Kent. Over the next year it battled inland, storming through hillforts and chopping down anyone who stood in their way.

The Romans wanted Britain's precious metals. However, they weren't just a destructive force - they built new forts, new settlements and roads. They spread their culture, language and laws.

Many Anglo-Saxons came peacefully, to find land to farm. Their homelands in Scandinavia often flooded so it was tough to grow enough food back there.

The Romans built new towns. These were often protected by walls and there was everything a citizen of Roman Britain would need inside - houses, shops, meeting spaces, workshops, temples and bathhouses.

They also built grand country houses called 'villas'. These had many rooms, some with beautifully painted walls, mosaic floors and even central heating.

The Romans had a story about how their city began. According to legend, Rome was founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, who were the sons of the god Mars

Some of the earliest evidence for the Romans in Scotland comes from the Gask Ridge. This earth-bank defence in Perthshire dates from around AD70. The Gask Ridge is about 20 miles (32 km) long. The Romans set up forts and watch towers along it.

Who was living in Scotland?In Roman times, there was no such country as Scotland. The area of Britain now known as Scotland was called ‘Caledonia’, and the people were known as the ‘Caledonians’.Back then, Caledonia was made up of groups of people or tribes. Some tribes were happy to get on peacefully with the Romans, but others fought back.In the summer of AD84 some Caledonian tribes joined forces and made a stand against the invading Roman army. The two sides fought at a place called Mons Graupius (the Grampian Mountains). The Romans were led by the Roman general Julius Agricola and the Caledonians were led by a fierce chief named Calgacus.The Caledonians had 30,000 warriors, about twice as many as the Romans. But the Romans were better organised and defeated the Caledonians. Even though Calgacus and his army had fled, the Caledonians returned many times to raid the Roman frontier.

A particularly troublesome tribe for the Romans were the Picts. ‘Picti’ means ‘painted ones’ in Latin, because the tribe were known for painting their bodies with tattoos.

Over the centuries Patrick has become an almost mythical character – meaning that a lot of what has been said and written about him is true, but some things have been made up or exaggerated.

Luckily Patrick, who was born into an Anglo-Roman family in western Britain, could read and write and so was able to pen his own autobiography. These writings, called Patrick's Confessio or Confession, can be used to build up a true picture of who he really was.