Post on 16-Dec-2015
The CeltsThe Celts
Who were they?Who were they?
The term refers to any number of ancient The term refers to any number of ancient tribes in Europe using the Celtic tribes in Europe using the Celtic languageslanguages
Origins and geographical Origins and geographical distributiondistribution
Some historians believe that they Some historians believe that they originate from the Caspian steppesoriginate from the Caspian steppes
The first records date back to 600BCThe first records date back to 600BC By that time they had By that time they had spread over much
of Central Europe, the Iberian peninsula, Ireland and Britain
Geographical Geographical DistributionDistribution
the core Hallstatt the core Hallstatt territory, expansion territory, expansion before 500 BC(yellow) before 500 BC(yellow)
maximum Celtic maximum Celtic expansion by the 3rd expansion by the 3rd century BC (blue),century BC (blue),
the boundaries of the six the boundaries of the six commonly-recognized commonly-recognized 'Celtic nations', which 'Celtic nations', which remained Celtic speaking remained Celtic speaking throughout the Middle throughout the Middle Ages (green). Ages (green).
areas that remain Celtic-areas that remain Celtic-speaking today (dark speaking today (dark green) green)
Celtic languages in Celtic languages in BritainBritain
Pictish (Scotland)Pictish (Scotland) Brythonic (England)Brythonic (England) Scotti (Ireland)Scotti (Ireland) Cornish (South-England)Cornish (South-England)
Other Celtic languagesOther Celtic languages
Belgae (Belgium)Belgae (Belgium) Gaulish (France)Gaulish (France) Proto-Basque (Spain)Proto-Basque (Spain) Galatian (Greece)Galatian (Greece) Etc.Etc.
The Celts before the The Celts before the RomansRomans
Social hierarchy:Social hierarchy:
kingskings
warrior aristocracywarrior aristocracy
druids, poets, juristsdruids, poets, jurists
everyone elseeveryone else
Organization of societyOrganization of society
Around warsAround wars Kings were elected – the best warriors Kings were elected – the best warriors
became the high and low kingsbecame the high and low kings Women were also participating in all Women were also participating in all
spheres – they could become queensspheres – they could become queens They were hunters and raiders – all the They were hunters and raiders – all the
goods were sharedgoods were shared
Celtic artsCeltic arts They were literate, but preferred the oral traditionThey were literate, but preferred the oral tradition Highly skilled in visual arts (on clay, metal, wood)Highly skilled in visual arts (on clay, metal, wood)
FaithFaith
Druidism, after the Roman conquest Druidism, after the Roman conquest `Celtic Christianity``Celtic Christianity`
Druidism:Druidism:- Immortality of the soulImmortality of the soul- When somebody dies the soul passes to When somebody dies the soul passes to
a newborn childa newborn child- They believed that they descended from They believed that they descended from
a supreme beinga supreme being
DruidsDruids
Classes: prophets, bards and priestsClasses: prophets, bards and priests Assisted by sorcerers (female priests)Assisted by sorcerers (female priests) Druids had the power:Druids had the power:
- of mastering astrology of mastering astrology
- of magicof magic
- to control animals and plantsto control animals and plants
- of healingof healing
Sacred ritualsSacred rituals
Rituals carried out in oak forestsRituals carried out in oak forests Sacred plants: oak trees and mistletoesSacred plants: oak trees and mistletoes Used altars (stone monuments)Used altars (stone monuments) Stone temples (Stonehenge)Stone temples (Stonehenge) Providing sacrifices (human heads, Providing sacrifices (human heads,
plants, animals) to animistic gods (gods plants, animals) to animistic gods (gods of the wood, elements, rivers, etc.)of the wood, elements, rivers, etc.)
After the Roman After the Roman conquestconquest
Julius Caesar conquered Gallia, and Julius Caesar conquered Gallia, and parts of Britain; Claudius went deeper parts of Britain; Claudius went deeper into the inlands of Britain; Hadrian's limes into the inlands of Britain; Hadrian's limes established the northern border against established the northern border against the Pictish and Scottish invasionsthe Pictish and Scottish invasions
33rdrd to 5 to 5thth century AD century AD
Roman influenceRoman influence
ChristianityChristianity Roads, aqueductsRoads, aqueducts UrbanizationUrbanization Taxation, commerceTaxation, commerce
Anglo-Saxon invasionAnglo-Saxon invasion
From 6From 6thth century onwards century onwards Lots of Celts fled to IrelandLots of Celts fled to Ireland Some meltedSome melted Remained only in Wales (Remained only in Wales (Cymru,Cymru, Cardiff Cardiff
= = CaerdyddCaerdydd) and Scotland (Gaelic: ) and Scotland (Gaelic: AlbaAlba)) Language slowly disappearedLanguage slowly disappeared
Celtic influence on Celtic influence on Modern EnglandModern England
ChristianityChristianity Beliefs/Customs: Wiccas, Halloween, Beliefs/Customs: Wiccas, Halloween,
May Day May Day Language (qw- Language (qw- queen,queen, kn- kn- knight,knight, knifeknife
-gh -gh burghburgh, , lochloch, , lakelake-kh)-kh)