>>76341083The Celts were a group of tribal societies in ancient Europe who spoke Celtic languages and shared certain cultural traits. They were never a unified empire but rather a loose network of tribes connected by language, art, religion, and social structure.
Key Points About the Celts:
Origins & Spread
Origins: Likely originated in Central Europe (Hallstatt culture, c. 1200–500 BCE).
Expansion: By around 300 BCE, Celtic tribes had spread across a huge area of Europe — from Ireland and Britain in the west to Galatia (in modern Turkey) in the east, and as far south as northern Italy and the Iberian Peninsula.
Where They Lived
Gauls: France and surrounding areas.
Britons: British Isles.
Gaels: Ireland and later Scotland.
Galatians: Migrated into Anatolia (modern-day Turkey).
Iberian Celts: Parts of modern Spain and Portugal.
Culture
Language: Spoke Celtic languages (now mostly extinct except Irish, Welsh, and Scottish Gaelic).
Society: Tribal and clan-based, with warrior elites and a strong druidic priest class.
Religion: Polytheistic, nature-based, with gods linked to rivers, trees, animals, and war. Druids were religious leaders, judges, and keepers of knowledge.
Art: Known for intricate metalwork, knot designs, and stylized animal motifs.
Contact with Rome
The Celts came into frequent conflict with the Romans, especially in Gaul and Britain.
Julius Caesar famously conquered the Gauls in the Gallic Wars (58–50 BCE).
Over time, much of Celtic Europe was absorbed into the Roman Empire.
Legacy
Modern Celtic identity survives mainly in the British Isles — especially in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, and Brittany (France).
Celtic languages, music, art, and festivals (like Samhain, which influenced Halloween) still influence Western culture.
Would you like more detail on any specific Celtic group (e.g., the Irish Celts or the Gauls), or their religion, warfare, or mythology?