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The Greeks called the Celts living to the north of them the
Keltoi, but the origin of the term is unknown. It does appear to be
origin of the modern term Celt. The geographical and ethnic origins
of the Celtic people of Europe are largely unknown. They are believed
to have appeared in Europe during the 2nd millennium BC. Most
historians believe that they were one of the more war-like Caucasian
tribes. The original Celts appeared to a have conquered and merged
with existing non-Indo European tribes. The Celts became the
dominate force in north-central Europe. Celtic language , customs,
religion, and traditions were gradually adopted by subjected peoples.
There are thought to have been about 150 distinct Celtic tribes, among
which the Britons and Gauls are today the best known. Toward the end
of the 2nd millennium, the Gauls became increasingly dominant in
north central Europe. The Gauls from the 5th-2nd century BC expanded
their area of influence, moving south of the Alps into Italy, even
sacking Rome (390 BC). They also moved into Spain, Greece, and
Turkey. At the end of the 2nd century BC, these wide spread
deployments had weakened their power in central Europe. The Gauls wee
less able to resist pressure from German tribes east of the Rhine. The Roman Gaius Marius defeated the Gauls south of the Alps. Caesar
defeated the Gauls, especially the Belgae north of the Alps (58-50
BC). Within the Empire, slowly Latin replaced the Celtic language.
The Celts unlike Roman men wore trousers and the word breaches, the
first form of trousers worn by European men.
The names of countries is a fascinating topic as is the different names used in different countries. The names of countries in Western Europe is especially interesting. The Greeks called the Celts living
to the north of them the Keltoi, but the origin of the term is unknown. It does appear to be origin of the modern term Celt. The Romans used a different term-the Gallia. The two modern terms Celts
and Gauls are often used synonomously. Neither are terms actually used by the Celts themselves.
Modern Belgium takes its name from the Belgae, a Celtic tribe defeated by Caesar in the 1st century BC.
Very little is known about the early inhabitants of the British Isles, although archeological work has unearthened some fascinating information in recent years. The Celtic peoples appear to have begun migrating to Britain at about the time Rome began to emerge in Italy (about 600 BC). There is some evidence that the Celts integrated the existing population. The Celts were a pre-literate society. Thus there are no written records. In fact, the first written accounts of Celtic Britain are provided by Julius Ceasar during his military expeditions (55-54 BC). Ceasar learned a good bit about the Britons and Celts while in Britain. The British war techhnology was more advanced than he anticipated. He was surprised to find the Britons had war chariots. He was also astonished to find that the Britons would rub their bodies with woad before going into battle. He picked up usefil information about the Gauls. King Commius of the Atrebates, who founded a dynasty in modern Sussex and Hampshire, was a source of information. Celtic legend was that he Druids, Celtic priests, had originally come from Britain and not Gaul itself. Caesar's assessment was that the Britons, much like the Gauls, were a quarrelsome tribal society. Even with the Roman Army in Britain, the various tribes seem primarily concerned with long standing tribal differences. Cassivellaunus appears to have been the most powerful of the Celtic tribes in southern Britain. Mandubracius, chief of the Trinovantes, north of the Thames in East Anglia, was attacked by Cassivellaunus and sought Ceasar's protection. Ceasar did not fully understsand the tribal relations, in particular whether the warring Britons were separate tribes or sub-groups of the same tribe. Very little is known of the Britons at this time because there are not British written records. One of the few sources of information or coins minted by the various British tribes. Many of these coins had the names of the tribal chiefs. Archeologists have found coins from the Dobunni (Gloucestershire), Durotriges (Dorset), Iceni (East Anglia), and Corieltauvi (Leicestershire, Lincolnshire).
One of the countries most associated with the Celts is France. The Celts called it Argos before the Roman conquest. Within the Empire, the land was called Gaul. The term 'Gallia' to the Romans
sounded like the 'Land of the Roosters', because Gallus is Latin word for rooster. As a result, the rooster became the emblem of the French nation. The actual name of France was derived from The Franks, a Teutonic tribe which crossed the Rhine around 500 AD and pushed the Celts to the far fringe of Europe. In France, the Breton Peninsula (Brittany) was one of the areas where Celtic influence survived.
The Germans have never called themselves German nor is German even a German word. Ir. appears to come from a Celtic root meaning 'neighboring', very close to the Latin word "Germanicus" which meant
'having the same parents'. The Germans use the term Deutschland, which means 'Land of the people' from the Gothic root Deudisko, meaning 'people'. The French use Allemagne for Germany. The term was
derived from Alemani--a tribe from the Black Forest. Many used to to look on the Germans as Prussians because it was Prussia which unified Germany and dominated many of the institutions of the German Empire
after unification. Prussia is a contraction of Borussia.
The modern Russian nation was in large measure forged by
Scandinavia, especially Swedish, Viking traders. They were first called Rus by an Arab diplomat during the 10th century.
The geographical and ethnic origins of the Celtic people of Europe are largely unknown. They are believed to have appeared in Europe during the 2nd millennium BC. Most historians believe that they were one of the more war-like Caucasian tribes. The original Celts appeared to a have conquered and merged with existing non-Indo European tribes. The Celts became for an extended period the dominate force in north-central
Europe.
Celtic language, customs, religion, and traditions were gradually adopted by subjected peoples. There was never one unified Celtic nation. This is one factor in Caesar's ability to conquer Gaul with a military force smaller than the forces available to the Celts. There are thought to have been about 150 distinct Celtic tribes, among which the Britons and Gauls (each divivided into numerous tribes) are today the best known. There were
substantial differences among the various Celtic tribes, although the nature of these differences in not well understood today.
The Celts dominated much of north central Europe, from the Pyrenees and British Isles east to Galicia (Poland). While the Celts were dominate in Northern Europe, they not only pressed south
against the Romans, but blocked the entry of the Germanic tribes into Western Europe. Caesar's conquest to Gaul in the 1st century BC destroyed the Celts as a major military power and meant that Rome now
had to contend with the Germanic peoples pressing west.
Toward the end of the 2nd millennium, the Gauls became increasingly dominant in north-central Europe. The Gauls from the 5th-2nd century BC expanded their area of influence, moving south of the Alps into Italy, even sacking Rome (390 BC) and controlled in for over 40 years. Until the Germanic invasions of the 5th century AD, this was the worst defeat ever inflicted upon Rome. The Romans were forced to pay a huge tribute in gold. They also moved into Spain, Greece, and Turkey. At the end of the 2nd century BC, these wide spread deployments had weakened their power in central Europe. The Gauls were less able to resist pressure from German tribes east of the Rhine. The Roman Gaius Marius defeated the Gauls south of the Alps. Caesar defeated the Gauls, especially the Belgae north of the Alps (58-50 BC).
Julius Caesar while campaining in Gaul launched two expeditions accross the Channel (55 and 54 BC). Ceasar decided against a major military expedition. It is not enirely sure why. His focus at the time was on Gaul. Presumably he concluded the conquest would not justify the expense, especially when the situation in Gaul itself was not yet settled. Ceaser did, however, report on these explots to his adoring public back in Rome. The subsequent Roman invasion came a century later. Roman attempted to bring Britain within the Empire through diplomatic initiatives. By the time Rome initiated the conquest of Britain, Gaul had been firmly Romanized. Rome's new emperor, Claudius (43 AD), athorized The invasion. It was Claudiu's first foreign expedition. Successful military expeditions were important in establishing a prestigious reputation. Claudius assigned Aulus Plautius to carry out the invasion. The Britons were a Celtic people, related to the tribes of Gaul which Ceasar had conquered. The British proved to be a substantial military challenge, taking several decades to accomplish. Eventually Roman armies subjugated the British Celts and the era of Roman Britain began. The Roman conquest of Brition was characterically brutal. It took longer than Caesar's conquest of Gaul.
Very little is known about the early inhabitants of the British Isles, although archeological work has unearthened some fascinating informatin in recent years. The Celtic peoples appear to have begun migrating to Britain at about the tme Rome began to emerge in Italy (about 600 BC). There is some evidence that the Celts integrated the existing population. The Celts were a pre-literate society. Thus there are no written records. In fact, the first written accounts of Celtic Britain are provided by Julius Ceasar during his military expeditions (55-54 BC). Ceasar learned a good bit about the Britons and Celts while in Britain. The British war techhnology was more advanced than he anticipated. He was surprised to find the Britons had war chariots. He was also astonished to find that the Britons would rub their bodies with woad before going into battle. He picked up usefil information about the Gauls. King Commius of the Atrebates, who founded a dynasty in modern Sussex and Hampshire, was a source of information. Celtic legend was that he Druids, Celtic priests, had originally come from Britain and not Gaul itself. Caesar's assessment was that the Britons, much like the Gauls, were a quarrelsome tribal society. Even with the Roman Army in Britain, the various tribes seem primarily concerned with long standing tribal differences. Cassivellaunus appears to have been the most powerful of the Celtic tribes in southern Britain. Mandubracius, chief of the Trinovantes, north of the Thames in East Anglia, was attacked by Cassivellaunus and sought Ceasar's protection. Ceasar did not fully understsand the tribal relations, in particular whether the warring Britons were separate tribes or sub-groups of the same tribe. Very little is known of the Britons at this time because there are not British written records. One of the few sources of information or coins minted by the various British tribes. Many of these coins had the names of the tribal chiefs. Archeologists have found coins from the Dobunni (Gloucestershire), Durotriges (Dorset), Iceni (East Anglia), and Corieltauvi (Leicestershire, Lincolnshire).
The Celts once dominated much of northern Europe. They were a major threat to the Romans before being driven west and conquered by the Romans. The Celts survived on the western fringe of Europe--the Celtic fronge.
Scotland was not initilly a Celtic area. It was dominated by the Picts and other tribes. After the Roman Legions left Britain (407 AD) and the Anglo Saxon invasions. The Romanized and Celtic Britons were pushed west and north, some into Scotland. There was also an invasion of the Irish Celts.
Within the Empire, slowly Latin replaced the Celtic language. By the 4th century AD, Celtic had virtually disappeared from the Continent. There was no written Celtic language which has left many
voids in our understanding of these intriguing people. The Celts had, however, extensive relations with neighboring people that have left written records such as Greece and Rome. These historical
accounts as well as archeological work has helped evidence as well as historical accounts from other cultures has helped to build a basic understanding of the Celtic people. This is one reason that the Celts are often seen as barbarians, because we are often looking at them through Roman and Greek eyes.
Celtic continued to be spoken in Britain an Ireland. Surprisingly the language legt only a minor impact on Old English and English in general. This appears to reflect the war of extunctin waged by the Anglo-Saxon tribes that invaded Britain after the departure of the Legions (5th and 6th centuries. The Anglo-Saxon conquest largely displaced the Celtic peoples and their language.
The Celts have influenced Western civilization in countless, often
unrecognized ways. Modern Christmas celebrations, for
example, originated in the ancient Celtic celebrations of the Winter
solstice. Many Celtic practices like decorating dwellings winter winter greenery such as mistletoe and holly originated in practices promoted by the Celtic Druid priests as part of winter religious rites.
Information on Celtic costume is very limited. Northern Europe is
not like the Egyptian desert where textiles might be preserved for
long periods. There are a few artifacts such as the Danish bog
people which may have been Celtic or Teutonic. Primarily information
on Celtic dress comes from how the people they came in contact with
described them, especially the Greeks and Romans. There is reason to
believe from some textile finds such as at a mine near Salzburg,
Austria that the celts had well developed weaving technology.
[Barber, p. 204.] The garment most associated with Celtic culture, at
least Scotland and Ireland is the kilt. In fact, there is no evidence
that the ancient Celts wore kilts. The kilt of Scottish legend is a
much more recent development. The kilt (a breacan feile or belted
plaid) appears very late in Celtic history, probably about 1550-1600
AD. Scottish and Irish Celts throughout most of their history wore a
linen or wool tunic (leine) and in cold weather a large cloak (brat) with or without breaches. [Riley and McGann.] In fact, while Roman soldiers wore a kilt-like skirt, Celtic warriors more commonly wore breaches. (Some Celtic warriors went into battle naked, but this appears to have been on exceptional occasions. Celtic soldiers and calvary wore trousers and colored cloaks and tunics. The breaches worn by Celtic men appear to have varied considerably over time and in different locations. [Dunleavy, p. 17] The skirt wearing Roman legions viewed these Celtic breaches as an example of their barbarity. It is Ironic that a millennia later, the kilts adopted by the Celtic Highland Scots were seen as barbaric by the well-breached English and Scottish lowlanders. The wealthy Celts might have worn their beaches with gold and silver plaited belts. [Duffy, p. 88.] The Celts unlike Roman men wore trousers called bracae which was the origin of the English word breaches, the first form of trousers worn by European men. [Duffy, p. 88.] Another source reports that Celtic men wore tunics with and without breaches.[Riley and McGann.] Women also sometimes wore trousers. Women primarily, however, although tight-waisted skirts were more common. [Duffy, p. 113.] Another source suggests Celtic women were influence by Greek fashion. [Riley and McGann.] Both men and women wore leather shoes and sandals. Both men and women wore tunics at lengths from the waist to the knees. Most sources agree that the tunics worn by Celtic men were colorful. One source describes the tunics as having narrow to the wrist, but also short sleeves. Decoration at the wrist and neck was common. [Riley and McGann.] Covering these tunics in cold weather might be a cloak which fastened with a broach. Wealthy Celts would have very fancy broaches. The cloaks could also be fancy and were a sign of rank and social status. [Duffy, p. 113.] There appears to have been some similarity among the different Celtic tribes. The Romans that invaded Britain found that the Celtic Britons dressed and behaved much as the Gauls. [Duffy, p. 113.] There must have been differences, however for a people whose history spans such a long period and inhabited such a large area. We do not have any information specifically on Celtic children's clothes.
The Celts, both men and women wore their hair very long. Lengths
down past their shoulders was common. Roman writers often commented
that the Celts were extremely vain about their hair. The Celts, again
both men and women, commonly plaited (braided) their hair. The
affluent might attach hollow gold balls to the end of their at the
ends of their plaits. Men appear to have rinsed their hair in
limewater to both brighten the color and stiffen it. Their hair was
then pulled back from the forehead to the top of the head
and then further back to the nape of the neck. This style was likened
to the manes of horses. We do not know how boys wore their hair or if
it differed from that of adult men. Normally most men shaved, some
let small beards grow. Ranking officials are said to have only shaved
their cheeks. Women's hair styles could be elaborate and secured by
intricately styled pins. One indication of how important their hair
was to the ancient Celts was virtually everyone, and not just women,
appear to have carried a comb bag. This is suggested by numerous
archaeology digs. These comb bags might be carried by warriors going
into battle wearing little else. [Thompson]
Barber, E.W.J. Prehistoric Textiles (Princeton University Press: Princton, 1991).
Duffy, Kevin. Who Were the Celts (Barnes and Nobel: 1996).
Dunleavy, Mairead. Dress in Ireland (Homes & Meier Publishers, Inc.: New York, 1989).
Riley, M.E. and Kass McGann. Clothing of the Ancient Celts (1997 and 2002).
Thompson, Heather. "Clothing" An Ceangal Mara Foundation website, 1999.
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