Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-1-roman-withdrawal-from-britain

[Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [Primary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary.md) › [History](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history.md) › [History: KS2 National Curriculum](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum.md) › Roman Withdrawal from Britain

# Roman Withdrawal from Britain

History: KS2 National Curriculum, topic 3.1.1

## Roman Withdrawal from Britain

### Political Reasons

![Political Reasons](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-08/9f4c548c-729e-4927-8ea3-2e8d43b83bb8/301716f8-8d9a-4705-9ec6-5b775af29471.png)

- The Roman government needed soldiers closer to Rome.  
- Romans had problems in other parts of the empire.  
 - Roman officials wanted to keep control of those dangerous parts.
- In AD 410, the Roman Emperor Honorius told Britain to look after itself.

### Economic Reasons

![Economic Reasons](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-08/b4311c94-bdad-452b-9494-e5f76af31d57/bd9cb8c2-dab2-4f82-a79e-444162566d7d.png)

- The Roman Empire spent too much money defending Britain.  
- Britain could not pay enough taxes to support Roman soldiers.  
- Roman roads and towns in Britain needed repairs.  
- The Roman economy in Britain became weaker over time.

### Military Reasons

![Military Reasons](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-08/b76bb073-b950-4571-b36b-e6d35574119c/9a5599ac-be9b-4e08-93ff-e36b0f85b21b.png)

- Roman soldiers in Britain faced constant attacks from local tribes.  
- The Romans had stronger enemies near Rome. 
- Britain had fewer soldiers after the Roman army moved.  
 - Roman soldiers in Britain could not defend the land fully.

## Test yourself on Roman Withdrawal from Britain

- Why did the Roman government decide to withdraw from Britain?
- What happened in AD 410?
- Which Roman Emperor told Britain to look after itself?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/5bb99626-42d7-4529-a46f-09c2191a6303/section/04059957-32cb-42ff-8024-dbfd850f0bc9/session)

- Previous topic: [2.2.10 ‘Romanisation’ of Britain: Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-10-romanisation-of-britain-religion.md)
- Next topic: [3.1.2 Immediate Consequences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-2-immediate-consequences.md)

## History: KS2 National Curriculum contents

### 1 Changes in Britain from Stone Age to Iron Age
- 1.1 Introduction to Prehistory
  - [1.1.1 Prehistoric Ages & Timelines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-1-1-prehistoric-ages-and-timelines.md)
  - [1.1.2 Archaeology & Artefacts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-1-2-archaeology-and-artefacts.md)
  - [1.1.3 Discovering Prehistory](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-1-3-discovering-prehistory.md)
- 1.2 Changes through the Prehistoric Ages
  - [1.2.1 Houses through the Prehistoric Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-2-1-houses-through-the-prehistoric-ages.md)
  - [1.2.2 Tool Use through the Prehistoric Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-2-2-tool-use-through-the-prehistoric-ages.md)
  - [1.2.3 Food through the Prehistoric Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-2-3-food-through-the-prehistoric-ages.md)
- 1.3 Life in Prehistoric Times
  - [1.3.1 Early Farming & Skara Brae](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-1-early-farming-and-skara-brae.md)
  - [1.3.2 Rituals & Stonehenge](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-2-rituals-and-stonehenge.md)
  - [1.3.3 Travel & the Beaker Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-3-travel-and-the-beaker-culture.md)
  - [1.3.4 Trade & the Amesbury Archer](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-4-trade-and-the-amesbury-archer.md)
  - [1.3.5 Tribal Kindoms & Danebury Hillfort](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-5-tribal-kindoms-and-danebury-hillfort.md)
  - [1.3.6 Art, Culture & the Battersea Shield](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/1-3-6-art-culture-and-the-battersea-shield.md)

### 2 The Roman Empire & its Impacts on Britain
- 2.1 The Roman Empire
  - [2.1.1 What was the Roman Empire?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-1-what-was-the-roman-empire.md)
  - [2.1.2 The Roman Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-2-the-roman-army.md)
  - [2.1.3 Roman Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-3-roman-society.md)
  - [2.1.4 Roman Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-4-roman-life.md)
  - [2.1.5 Gladiators & the Theatre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-5-gladiators-and-the-theatre.md)
  - [2.1.6 Roman Engineering](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-6-roman-engineering.md)
  - [2.1.7 Roman Art](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-7-roman-art.md)
  - [2.1.8 Roman Mythology & Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-1-8-roman-mythology-and-religion.md)
- 2.2 Roman Britain
  - [2.2.1 Julius Caesar Invades Britain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-1-julius-caesar-invades-britain.md)
  - [2.2.2 Emperor Claudius](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-2-emperor-claudius.md)
  - [2.2.3 Claudius Invades Britain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-3-claudius-invades-britain.md)
  - [2.2.4 Client Rulers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-4-client-rulers.md)
  - [2.2.5 Queen Boudica's Rebellion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-5-queen-boudicas-rebellion.md)
  - [2.2.6 Caledonia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-6-caledonia.md)
  - [2.2.7 Hadrian's Wall](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-7-hadrians-wall.md)
  - [2.2.8 ‘Romanisation’ of Britain: Town Life](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-8-romanisation-of-britain-town-life.md)
  - [2.2.9 ‘Romanisation’ of Britain: Industry & Trade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-9-romanisation-of-britain-industry-and-trade.md)
  - [2.2.10 ‘Romanisation’ of Britain: Religion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/2-2-10-romanisation-of-britain-religion.md)

### 3 Britain's Settlement by Anglo-saxons & Scots
- 3.1 Life After the Romans
  - [3.1.1 Roman Withdrawal from Britain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-1-roman-withdrawal-from-britain.md)
  - [3.1.2 Immediate Consequences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-2-immediate-consequences.md)
  - [3.1.3 Changes in Culture & Society](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-3-changes-in-culture-and-society.md)
  - [3.1.4 Roman Legacy Today](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-4-roman-legacy-today.md)
  - [3.1.5 Scots & Picts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-1-5-scots-and-picts.md)
- 3.2 The Anglo-Saxons
  - [3.2.1 Anglo-Saxon Invasions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-1-anglo-saxon-invasions.md)
  - [3.2.2 Why did the Anglo-Saxons Invade?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-2-why-did-the-anglo-saxons-invade.md)
  - [3.2.3 Anglo-Saxon Culture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-3-anglo-saxon-culture.md)
  - [3.2.4 Sutton Hoo](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-4-sutton-hoo.md)
  - [3.2.5 Beowulf](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-5-beowulf.md)
  - [3.2.6 Anglo-Saxon Tribes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-6-anglo-saxon-tribes.md)
  - [3.2.7 Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-7-anglo-saxon-kingdoms.md)
  - [3.2.8 Christian Conversion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-8-christian-conversion.md)
  - [3.2.9 Important People during Christian Conversion](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/3-2-9-important-people-during-christian-conversion.md)

### 4 The Vikings & Anglo-Saxon Struggle for England
- 4.1 Who were the Vikings?
  - [4.1.1 Where & When Lived the Vikings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-1-1-where-and-when-lived-the-vikings.md)
  - [4.1.2 Culture & Beliefs of the Vikings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-1-2-culture-and-beliefs-of-the-vikings.md)
  - [4.1.3 Pirate Raids](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-1-3-pirate-raids.md)
- 4.2 Viking Raids in Britain
  - [4.2.1 Lindisfarne & The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-2-1-lindisfarne-and-the-anglo-saxon-chronicle.md)
  - [4.2.2 Danegeld & The Great Heathen Army](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-2-2-danegeld-and-the-great-heathen-army.md)
- 4.3 Vikings Settlements
  - [4.3.1 Resistance by Alfred the Great](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-1-resistance-by-alfred-the-great.md)
  - [4.3.2 The Danelaw Boundary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-2-the-danelaw-boundary.md)
  - [4.3.3 Vikings in the Danelaw](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-3-vikings-in-the-danelaw.md)
  - [4.3.4 Athelstan, the First King of England](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-3-4-athelstan-the-first-king-of-england.md)
- 4.4 Struggles in the 10th Century
  - [4.4.1 Kings after Athelstan](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-1-kings-after-athelstan.md)
  - [4.4.2 Aethelred the Unready](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-2-aethelred-the-unready.md)
  - [4.4.3 Viking Kings in England](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-3-viking-kings-in-england.md)
  - [4.4.4 King Cnut & Emma of Normandy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-4-king-cnut-and-emma-of-normandy.md)
  - [4.4.5 Kings after Cnut](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-5-kings-after-cnut.md)
  - [4.4.6 King Edward the Confessor](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-6-king-edward-the-confessor.md)
  - [4.4.7 The New King](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/primary/history/history-ks2-national-curriculum/4-4-7-the-new-king.md)
