England

===Ancient history===

The Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD during the reign of Emperor [[Claudius]], subsequently [[Roman conquest of Britain|conquering much of Britain]], and the area was incorporated into the Roman Empire as [[Roman Britain|Britannia province]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Jason |date=2 December 2000 |title=Dig uncovers Boudicca's brutal streak |work=The Observer |location=London |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,406152,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=5 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031022061846/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0%2C6903%2C406152%2C00.html |archive-date=22 October 2003}}</ref> The best-known of the native tribes who attempted to resist were the [[Catuvellauni]] led by [[Caratacus]]. Later, an uprising led by [[Boudica]], Queen of the [[Iceni]], ended with Boudica's suicide following her defeat at the [[Defeat of Boudica|Battle of Watling Street]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cornelius Tacitus, The Annals |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Tac.+Ann.+14.37&redirect=true |access-date=22 December 2010 |publisher=Alfred John Church, William Jackson Brudribh, Ed}}</ref> The author of one study of Roman Britain suggested that from 43 AD to 84 AD, the Roman invaders killed somewhere between 100,000 and 250,000 people from a population of perhaps 2,000,000.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goldsworthy |first=Adrian |title=Pax Romana: War, Peace and Conquest in the Roman World |date=2016 |publisher=Hachette UK |page=276}}</ref> This era saw a [[Greco-Roman]] culture prevail with the introduction of [[Roman law]], [[Roman architecture]], [[List of aqueducts in the Roman Empire|aqueducts]], [[Sanitation in ancient Rome|sewers]], many agricultural items and silk.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bedoyere |first=Guy |title=Architecture in Roman Britain |url=http://heritage-key.com/publication/architecture-roman-britain |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703012351/http://heritage-key.com/publication/architecture-roman-britain |archive-date=3 July 2009 |access-date=23 December 2010 |website=Heritage Key}}; {{Cite book |url={{GBurl|id=bylBAAAAIAAJ|q=roman law after roman invasion of britain|p=276}} |title=The History of Progress in Great Britain |volume=2 |first=Robert |last=Philip |access-date=23 December 2010 |date=1860}}; {{Cite book |url={{GBurl|id=1qiFEQ1tAHQC|q=roman occupation brought to britain a sewage system|pg=PT119}} |title=Medicine through time |publisher=Heinemann |first1=Bob |last1=Rees |first2=Paul |last2=Shute |first3=Nigel |last3=Kelly |access-date=24 December 2010 |isbn=978-0-435-30841-4 |date=9 January 2003}}</ref> In the 3rd century, Emperor [[Septimius Severus]] died at [[Eboracum]] (now [[York]]), where [[Constantine the Great|Constantine]] was subsequently proclaimed emperor a century later.{{Sfn|Rankov|1994|p=16}}

There is debate about when Christianity was first introduced; it was no later than the 4th century, probably much earlier. According to [[Bede]], missionaries were sent from Rome by [[Pope Eleuterus|Eleutherius]] at the request of the chieftain [[Lucius of Britain]] in 180 AD, to settle differences as to Eastern and Western ceremonials, which were disturbing the church. There are traditions linked to Glastonbury claiming an introduction through [[Joseph of Arimathea]], while others claim through Lucius of Britain.{{Sfn|Wright|2008|p=143}} By 410, during the [[decline of the Roman Empire]], Britain was left exposed by the [[end of Roman rule in Britain]] and the withdrawal of Roman army units, to defend the frontiers in continental Europe and partake in civil wars.<ref name="james_anglosaxons" /> Celtic Christian monastic and missionary movements flourished. This period of Christianity was influenced by ancient Celtic culture in its sensibilities, polity, practices and theology. Local "congregations" were centred in the monastic community and monastic leaders were more like chieftains, as peers, rather than in the more hierarchical system of the Roman-dominated church.<ref name="Lehane">{{Cite book |last=Lehane |first=Brendan |title=Early Christian Christianity |date=1968 |publisher=John Murray}}</ref>