How far religion changed under Roman rule
I can explain how far religion changed in Britain after the Celts were conquered.
How far religion changed under Roman rule
I can explain how far religion changed in Britain after the Celts were conquered.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Like the Ancient Romans, whose beliefs had been influenced by the Ancient Greeks, the Celtic people were polytheistic.
- In Britain, the Ancient Romans introduced their own gods and wiped out the druids (Celtic religious leaders) in 60CE.
- Elsewhere the Ancient Romans were tolerant of Celtic religion, allowing it to continue alongside some of their gods.
- Evidence shows us that religious change was slow, and often in combination with existing beliefs.
Keywords
Polytheism - when people believe in many gods and goddesses, it is called polytheism
Barbarian - a barbarian was what the Ancient Romans called anyone who did not follow Greek or Roman traditions
Druids - the druids were priests of the Celtic religion who believed they could communicate with their gods and goddesses
Ancestor - an ancestor is someone's family member from the past
Common misconception
Pupils may gain the impression that the Ancient Romans destroyed all aspects of Celtic worship.
Remind pupils that although the druids were wiped out, the worship of Celtic gods was tolerated as long as Ancient Roman ones were also respected.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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