Celtic Britain

The Iberians

• Neolithic period: first settling
• From: the South
• Evidences:
  - archaeological remains > beakers
  - landmark > Stonehenge

The Celts

• Date: 700 B.C.
• From: north-west Germany
• Languages: remains in Welsh (Wales), Gaelic (Scotland)
• Physical appearance: tall, muscular, fair skin, blue eyes, blond hair
• Occupation: farmers, hunters, fishermen, metal workers
• Social role: warriors, seamen, traders (iron, tin, silver, pottery and cloths ® tartan)
• Social and political organization: tribes

Religion > religion, justice, education, medicine): druidism

• Rites: ceremonies in the forest
• Worship: natural elements (Sun, Moon, trees, rivers), especially Water
• Beliefs: immortality, transmigration of souls
• Rites: Sacrifice (precious objects, domestic animals, humans only in case of great need)
• Reasons why the Romans conquered Britain:
  - British Celts gave aid to the Gaulish Celts against Rome
  - Agricultural and commercial prosperity

 

 

 

 

Exercises

     1)

1. Archaeological remains – resti archeologici
2. Megalith – megalite
3. Iron – ferro
4. Tin – stagno
5. Pottery – ceramica
6. Cloth – stoffa
7. Tribe – tribù
8. Warrior – guerriero
9. Temple – tempio
10. The gods – gli dei

2)

1.We know about the Celts from the archaeological remains (beakers and megaliths).
2. The most famous structure in the megalith of Stonehenge.
3. They traded iron, tin and cloth.
4. They produced pottery.
5. They were organized in tribes.
6. The tribal leaders were warriors.
7. They didn’t used temples of their ceremonies.
8. They didn’t worship gods, but the natural elements.

3)

a. Mistletoe
b. Cloak
c. Megalith
d. Beaker

4)

4. Worship
5. Rites

5)

a. There are beakers and cups of early pottery and megalithic structures like Stonehenge.
b. Because there are no written evidences of why Stonehenge was built and how it was used.
c. The Celtic language remains in Welsh (Wales) and Gaelic (Scotland).
d. They had an important role in religion, justice, education and medicine.

6)

I imagine the stories to be about myths about natural elements, extraordinary events and supernatural forces. I think they also told about their sea crossings or hunting trips.

7)

They were not uncivilized because they had a well-working technique to cultivate, had commercial exchanges and a defined social structure.

8)

Elements of worship	Beliefs	The after-life	Communication with the spiritual world
All natural elements	Immortality	Spent on Earth in caves, hills or lakes	Sacrifices (human only in extreme cases)
Water (holy element that generates life and is the door of the world after death)	Transmigration of the soul from one person to another		Offerings

 

 

 

 

 

Focus on History (Late 4^th C.-1485)

A) The European Scene (Late 4^th C.-1485)

• The Middle Ages: from the ancient classical era to the Renaissance
• Unifying features in Europe:
  - Christianity (gave rise to new imperial systems)
  - Feudalism (hierarchical structure, great power to local kings + less power central ecclesiastical authority.
• Factors of change:
  - Invasions (Nordic populations and Mongols) > destruction + new settlements
  - Crusades > ravaged countries + opened new travel and trade routes
  - Travel
• Results:
  - Growth of towns along trade routes
  - Formation of a new social class: bourgeoisie or middle class

B) The British Scene: Early Medieval Period (4^th C.-1066)

Main facts

• Subdivision of periods: Middle Ages (late 4^th C.-1485)
  - Early Medieval period (late 4^th C.-1066)
  - Late Medieval period (1066-1485)
• Development of populations in Britain:
  - The Romans > 43 AD-410AD
  - Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) > 5^th and 6^th centuries
  - Anglo-Saxon England takes shape > end of 6^th century
  - King of Wessex recognised > 9^th century
• Development of Christianity in Britain:
  - Augustine and Benedictine monks sent in Britain
  - Many kings and subjects became Christian
  - Establishment of monasteries (Canterbury, Scotland)
• Viking invasions (Norsemen and Danes):
  - Danes: established in London
  - Viking raids: continued throughout the 10^th century

The Anglo-Saxons (Late 4^th C.-1066)

• Contributions: Nordic religion, strong military organisation, code of values,
• Occupation: farming and fishing
• Social and political organization: clan and tribes
  - Ruled by a king of chief
  - Earls
  - Thegns
  - Freemen
• Society: country villages, farmland, woods, pastures, meadows (owned communally)
• Development:
  - Larger communities > boroughs
  - Date: 8^th and 9^th centuries
  - Role: first military bases, then centres of trade
  - Social role of inhabitants: soldiers, merchants
• Language: Old English