- The Celtic Britons under Rome -
method of exchange for the wine consumed at Danebury on the evidence of the
amphorae found in a late phase of the site (100-50 Be) (ibid.: 179).
This was suddenly changed, at least for south-east Britain, when this area came
into direct contact with Rome, through the raids of Caesar in 55 and 54 Be. But
before this is considered in detail, it is necessary to consider how and why Rome
became interested in Celtic Britain through the operations of Caesar in Gaul.
ROME AND BRITAIN
At this period, the Roman image of Britain was of a remote island on the edge of the
world, hidden in the Atlantic mists. There were stories brought back by intrepid
Greek traders like Phytheas of the fourth century Be (Hawkes 1975) and from the
Greek ethnographer, Poseidonios who wrote descriptions of the Celts. Although
the text of his work has not survived, it is possible to recover some of it from others
who quoted him. These include Athenaeus, Diodorus Siculus, Strabo and later, of
course, Caesar (Tierney 1960: 189-275).JULIUS CAESAR IN GAUL AND BRITAIN
After Julius Caesar's consulship in 59 Be, he first became governor of Cisalpine and
then of Transalpine Gaul. Caesar chronicled his progress through Gaul in detail in
the Commentarii de Bello Gallico. It was compiled for his dispatches to the Senate
and can be seen as a skilful justification of his activities.
Caesar's interest in Britain was no doubt inspired by hopes of plunder, such as he
had enjoyed in Gaul, but also perhaps to 'upstage' his Roman rival Pompey in
venturing across the sea beyond the known world, but there was a more important
factor. He had learnt from traders that the cross-channel trade was mainly controlled
by the Veneti, a seafaring people occupying what is now the Cherbourg peninsula,
which thrusts itself so intrusively into the Channel. So powerful was the control the
Veneti possessed that, according to Caesar (III.8), they exacted tolls for all those who
ventured into their waters. He was also informed that there was a long and well-
established relationship between this tribe and those of southern Britain. According
to Strabo (IV+I), the Veneti had even established a trading post in Britain. It has
been argued from the excavations by Barry Cunliffe (Mays 198 I: 55-7) that this
could have been Hengistbury Head. The history and extent of this trade has been
tentatively studied by Cunliffe (Cunliffe 1987). There is, however, more work needed
at other points of entry such as Hamworth, Poole, before any considered assessment
can be made. The Morini, who controlled the shorter route to the east, may have had
trading relationships with the tribes of the area that is now Sussex and Kent. One of
the obvious entry-points would have been Bosham Harbour, later to be occupied by
the Roman fleet (Cunliffe 1971: 26-52).
Caesar became aware of the close relationship between the tribes of south-east
Britain and north-east Gaul through cross-channel movements which had already
been taking place and which were accelerated by his hostile activities in Gaul. Of the