What is an oppidum?
Q: What is an oppidum?
A: An oppidum is a large fortified Iron Age settlement.
Q: When were oppida most commonly used?
A: Oppida were most commonly used in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, and continued until the Romans conquered Southern and Western Europe. In Germania, north of the rivers Danube and Rhine, they were still used into the 1st century AD.
Q: What are some of the main features of an oppidum?
A: The main features of an oppidum include its planned building with walls and gates, its spacious layout, and its view of the surrounding area.
Q: How did their development contribute to urbanisation in Europe?
A: The development of oppida was an important step in the urbanisation of Europe as they were among the first large settlements north of the Mediterranean that could be described as towns.
Q: Did all oppida have a defensive role?
A: No, not all oppida had an important defensive role; some grew from hill forts but not all had a defensive purpose.
Q: Was there any hierarchy among them?
A: Julius Caesar suggested that each tribe would have several different types of oppida which suggests that there may have been some form of hierarchy among them.
Q: Are there any well-preserved examples still around today?
A: Yes, one example that has been preserved is at Enserune in France which was occupied continuously from 6th century BC until 1st century AD. Other examples are now buried beneath large cities such as Vindobona which is covered by Vienna.
