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Difficulty: Very hardThe Romans

The Roman administration of Britain spanned roughly four centuries, leaving a lasting legacy on the island's infrastructure and culture. Which of the following statements accurately describes the circumstances of the Roman departure and the identity of the groups that subsequently settled in the territory?

  1. The Roman military withdrew in AD 410 to protect the heart of the Empire, after which Britain was invaded by tribes from north-western Europe, specifically the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons.Answer
  2. B
    Following the fortification of the northern border, the Romans entered into a peace treaty in AD 410 that allowed Viking and Danish warriors to establish the first Danelaw territories.
  3. C
    The end of Roman authority in AD 410 permitted the indigenous Bronze Age chieftains to reclaim their hillforts and restore the pre-Iron Age social structures throughout the southern lowlands.
  4. D
    The Roman withdrawal in AD 410 was the direct result of the Norman invasion from France, which replaced Latin law with the feudal system and initiated the Middle Ages.

Answer

The Romans left Britain in AD 410 to defend other parts of their empire, which allowed tribes from north-western Europe—the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons—to invade and settle.
The correct answer accurately identifies AD 410 as the year the Roman army left Britain to defend the rest of their empire. It also correctly names the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons as the tribes from north-western Europe that filled the resulting power vacuum.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the date and strategic reason for the end of the Roman military presence.
The Roman army departed in AD 410 because they were needed to defend the central parts of the Roman Empire from threats elsewhere.
The withdrawal was a strategic military decision rather than a defeat by the local British tribes.
2
Identify the specific groups that moved into Britain following the vacuum left by the Romans.
Tribes from north-western Europe, namely the Jutes, Angles, and Saxons, began to settle on the island.
These groups are collectively known as the Anglo-Saxons and their arrival marks the transition from Roman Britain to the early medieval period.
3
Verify the chronological placement of other historical groups to rule out incorrect options.
The Vikings (8th century), Bronze Age tribes (pre-Iron Age), and Normans (11th century) do not belong in the 5th-century timeline.
The Life in the UK handbook requires knowledge of the distinct waves of migration and the order in which they occurred.

Key Concept

The transition from Roman Britain to the Anglo-Saxon era.
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Topics

The Romans

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