1. By Colleen Birmingham
Tacitus on the Brits

2. Tacitus Lived 55 AD-117AD Roman Historian
His main works were The Dialogus, The Histories, The Annals, and his biography of his father-in-law Agricola
Also wrote ethnographies on various cultural groups, like Germans and Brits

3. Why the interest in Britain?
It’s in an isolated location, far away from Rome
The northernmost part of the world (for the Romans)
The climate, environment, and people are all vastly different from Rome.
the weather is cold and wet

4. Physical Appearances People of Caledonia People near Gaul Silurians
Red hair, Large limbs
Germanic origins
People near Gaul
Look like the people from Gaul
They also have similar sacred rites, and speech
Silurians
Dark skin, and curly hair

5. Tacitus on the British Military
He respects their military strength
Mentions some “distinguished men are charioteers” (Tacitus, Agricola,12.1)
He sees that a united military will be a major force against the Romans

6. Britain as a foil to Rome
Brits are seen as barbarians, while Romans are civilized
Brits dye their bodies with woad
They wear animal skins
Gender Roles
“[the Brits] do not differentiate between the sexes among their leaders” (Tacitus, Agricola, 16.1)

7. Creating our own Ethnology
Using our knowledge of environmental determinism, and what we know about Britain today.

8. Sources Tacitus, Agricola 11-12, 15-16, 27, 37 Caesar, Gallic Wars, V
"Tacitus, Roman historian." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Paul Lagasse, and Columbia University, Columbia University Press, 7th edition, Credo Reference, Id=6356. Accessed 19 Mar 2018.
"Agricola." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Paul Lagasse, and Columbia University, Columbia University Press, 7th edition, Credo Reference, utionId=6356. Accessed 27 Mar 2018.
“Roman Perceptions of Britain.” Roman Perceptions of Britain, penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/miscellanea/ geography.html.

9. Image sources