1. Brief revision of the different periods that have been covered during the first session:
Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age. This way, students will be clearly
familiarized with these periods.
2. Overview of the coming of the Romans: Briefly review what has been covered
previously.
3. Introducing a new element: It is important to first explain what led to the decline of
the Roman Empire, an event that resulted in the withdrawal of the Romans from
Britain, before addressing the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in Britain.

The decline of the Roman empire leading to the withdrawal of Romans from Britain
As prosperous as it was, the Roman Empire ultimately collapsed. Various factors led to its
fall:
Military Problems: The Roman Empire faced invasions by barbarian groups, including
Celtic and Germanic tribes. For some barbarians, these attacks were acts of revenge for
earlier Roman incursions during the empire's expansion. Others sought to weaken the empire
gradually in order to take control, particularly the Germanic tribes. In contrast, the empire's
constant pursuit of expansion left many military powers outside its borders, making it
vulnerable to such attacks.
Economic Problems: Due to its relentless pursuit of expansion, Rome found it increasingly
difficult to maintain economic stability. The need to build infrastructure in newly conquered
territories strained resources, further complicating the empire's ability to sustain itself
economically.

Chronology of important events:
It is said that the Roman Empire collapsed in 476 AD (5th century).
At that time, Romulus Augustulus, was the last Roman emperor of the Roman Empire,
reigning from 475 to 476 AD.
His reign was short and largely symbolic, as he was only a teenager and had little real power,
effectively serving as a puppet ruler under his father, Orestes, a general.
Romulus was defeated by Odoacer, a Germanic chieftain and military leader who had served
in the Roman army. As the empire was constantly looking for expansion, it recruited warriors
from across Europe. One of those successful warrior, Odoacer, decided to depose Romulus

Augustulus to assert his own power and establish himself as the ruler of Italy, filling the
power vacuum left by the weakened Roman authority. His motivations included a desire for
autonomy and political stability, as well as the ambition to create a new political order in
Italy.
Odoacer adopted Christianity, which helped him gain legitimacy among the Roman
population, and he declared himself king of the Kingdom of Italy in the West. Eventually,
this led to the division of the Roman Empire into the Western Roman Empire under Odoacer
and the Eastern Roman Empire, which we refer to as the Byzantine Empire.

Withdrawal:
Because the empire was weakening due to barbarian attacks and the division of the empire,
Rome gradually withdrew from various parts of its previous expansions, leading to its