Humans evolved from Homoerectus in Africa, and these ancient Africans spread out, gradually displacing the Neanderthals. As they moved out of the continents to places where the sun was less fierce, their skin began to become paler to allow them to create vitamin D, thus giving birth to the Asians, and later the Caucasians. It was the early Europeans in ancient Italy who became the Romans, and they existed long before Christ. They're elemental in the Bible and play large roles throughout the new testament, affecting the fate of many, including Christ himself.
In Britain, many people had lived and conquered before the Romans. The Celts were actually the only people to phsyically stop the advancing Romans, and held their occupation away from their borders, which is why you won't find Roman remains anywhere within Cornwall, Wales, or Scotland. Apart from the Celts, other noteable people were the Anglo Saxons, the Normans, the Danes, and the Vikings, decendants of which can still be found in modern Britain. The Roman occupation of Britain brought the introduction of Latin influence to the spoken word, and that along with some French and a few other things, lead to the birth of Old English, which later evolved to Middle English and then eventually Modern English. It also brought christianity, and various modern technology.
As you can see, it's fairly complicated.
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