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)