122 CE
The year Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and ordered the construction of a massive defensive wall stretching across northern England, a structure that would define the empire's frontier for nearly three centuries.
Architecture & Frontier
- Emperor Hadrian visited Britain and ordered the construction of a continuous stone and turf wall spanning approximately 73 miles from the Solway Firth in the west to the River Tyne in the east, separating Roman Britain from the unconquered north.
- Hadrian's Wall was designed not only as a military fortification but as a means of controlling movement and trade across the frontier, with gates, milecastles, and turrets positioned at regular intervals along its length.
- Construction of the wall, carried out primarily by Roman legionary soldiers, would continue for approximately six years and represented one of the largest building projects in the Roman Empire.
Climate & Environment
- Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was approximately 278 parts per million, as later confirmed by ice core analysis.
Society & Population
- The global population is estimated to have been approximately 256 million.