1. The Origins of the Docks Roman London London has been an important port since Roman times. The City was the centre of Britain’s trade with the rest of the Roman Empire. Wine, olive oil, glass, pottery and other manufactured goods were imported into Britain and a wide range of good, mainly foodstuffs and raw materials, were exported. A: Map of Roman Britain showing the main road network. B: Objects found during excavations in London: wine jar from Spain; Samian pottery from France; Glassware from Eastern part of Roman Empire. C: ‘(Britain) bears grain, cattle, gold, silver and iron. These things accordingly are exported from the island, as also hides, and slaves, and dogs that are by nature sited to the purposes of the chase.’ Strabo, Geography, Book4 (c.7 BC) D: A bird’s eye of the city of London in Roman times from a reconstruction drawn by A. Forestier.