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( Roman Britain)
 Historical records beyond the initial invasion are sparse, although many Roman historians mention the province in passing. Most of the knowledge of the period stems from archaeological investigations and especially epigraphic evidence. Britain was not unknown to the Classical world. As early as the 4th century BC the Greeks and Carthaginians traded for British tin[1] the Greeks refer to the Cassiterides or "tin islands" and describe them as being situated somewhere near the west coasts of Europe.[2] The Carthaginian sailor Himilco is said to have visited the island in the 5th century BC, and the Greek explorer Pytheas in the 4th. But it was regarded as a place of mystery, with some writers even refusing to believe it existed.[3] The first direct Roman contact came when the Roman general and future dictator, Julius Caesar, made two expeditions to Britain in 55 and 54 BC as an offshoot of his conquest of Gaul, believing the Britons had been helping the Gallic resistance. The first expedition, more a reconnaissance than a full invasion, gained a foothold on the coast of Kent but, undermined by storm damage to the ships and a lack of cavalry, was unable to advance further. The expedition was a military failure but a political success the Roman Senate declared a 20-day public holiday in Rome in honour of this unprecedented achievement.[4]
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