AN interactive map shows where Romans occupied British towns nearly 2,000 years ago.

The tool lays Roman roads over modern maps of cities including Bath, London and Chester.

Created by Heritage Daily, it allows you to see how different Britain was during Roman occupation, which lasted from 43 to 410 AD.

By the end of the fourth century, 3.6million people lived in Britain. One in 30 were Roman soldiers and their families and dependants.

The military takeover was swift and ruthless, but brought with it many benefits for Britain.

Roman towns and roads formed part of vast urban planning projects that laid the foundations for the nation we know today.

5 We've lined up some of the map's locations (right) with the same lines drawn over Google Maps (left). Pictured is London

5 Bath in Somerset is famed for its huge Roman baths

5 Roman settlements were protected by huge walls and panted the seeds for many of the British towns and cities we know today. Pictured is an artist's impression of the Roman town Calleva Atrebatum in Berkshire around the Third Century AD Credit: Alamy

Many of the UK's major towns and cities were founded by the Romans, including London (Londinium), Manchester (Mamucium) and York (Eboracum).

To use the map, first pick a spot to explore. Roman settlements are marked with black and red boxes.

You can zoom in on locations by clicking and using the mouse wheel, or by hitting the zoom in and zoom out buttons in the top right.

Roman walls, which were used to protect places of interest, are marked in black.

5 Chester was formed by the Romans as Deva Victrix

The Romans in Britain Here's everything you need to know... The Roman Empire conquered vast swathes of Europe, West Asia and North Africa. A Roman force of 40,000 led by Aulus Plautius landed in Kent and took the south east in 43 AD. Key tribal leaders surrendered, and within three years Britain was declared part of the Roman Empire. Londinium (London) was founded in 47 AD and became the country's capital. Networks of roads were built across the country. Over time, the Britons began to adopt Roman customs, such as towns, animals, a new religion and ways of reading and counting. The Romans even gave us the word "Britain". The Romans largely remained in the south of Britain, famously never managing to take Scotland from the country's violent Barbarian forces. By 410 AD, the Empire was falling apart, and Roman rule ended in Britain when soldiers were recalled to Rome to protect other parts of it.

Streets are marked in white, while roads used to travel between locations are orange.

"The conquest of the island inhabitants (the Britons) led to a distinctive Romano-British culture emerging thanks to a a blend of existing pagan worship and Roman traditions," according to Heritage Daily.

"The Roman administration also introduced mass urban planning projects, industrial production for export and the construction of road networks across the island for military application, trade and settlement."

Roman rule ended in Britain when soldiers were recalled to Rome to protect other parts of the Empire.

5 Th Roman settlement of Isca is now Caerleon, a small village north of Newport

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What do you think of the map? Let us know in the comments!

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