Today, we trace Julius Caesar’s dramatic invasions into Britain - two bold expeditions that tested Rome’s reach at the very edge of the known world. Ships were battered by storms, soldiers struggled with unfamiliar tides, and British warriors offered fierce resistance. Caesar never secured a lasting conquest of the island - so what drove him to try? Military necessity, retribution or a calculated move in his rivalry with figures like Pompey? Joining us is historian and author Simon Elliott to unpack the politics, ambition and spectacle behind these campaigns, and to explore how these risky ventures helped shape the larger-than-life reputation that still defines Caesar today. 0:00 Introduction 1:07 Britain: The "Mordor" of the Ancient World 3:18 The Strategic Context of the Gallic Wars 6:50 The Brutal Character of Julius Caesar 8:10 The Risky First Invasion of 55 BC 11:44 Landing at the White Cliffs of Dover 14:50 Inside the Roman Legion: An Industrial Killing Machine 19:40 The Great Storm and Caesar’s Near Disaster 24:10 The 54 BC Invasion: 30,000 Romans Return 27:25 Crossing the Thames and the Fall of Verulamium 32:45 Legacy: How Britain Joined the Roman World Produced by Mariana Des Forges, James Hickmann and McKenna Fernandez, edited by Matthew Wilson & the channel manager is Vilde Øksnes. You can find more Dan Snow's History Hit on the audio podcast here: https://podfollow.com/dan-snows-history-hit/view Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe. All music from Epidemic Sounds. #DanSnowsHistoryHit #HistoryPodcast #AncientRome