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If you are drawn to the cultue and history of the Celts, one of the greatest cultures of the history of humanity, then you should understand the vast influence and dominion they held over the known world during their centuries long presence as a culturally homogenous people. Reading about the history of these people, from whom you may be decendent, is one of the best ways to reconnect with your heritage. Another way is to recreate and honor the rituals and celebrations which were integral to the culture of the Celts.The ancestors of the Celts inhabited Europe as early as 400,000 BC and began forming permanent settlements after the last ice age around 6000 BC. The ancient Celts became a more culturally homogenous people around 800 BC and dominated most of Europe in their golden age around 300 B.C. thereby, predating the Roman Empire by several centuries. The Celtic influence spans from Eastern Europe (Hungary, Germany, Austria, etc.) to Western Europe (Ireland, Scotland, Wales). The Celts even sacked Rome in 390 BC and invaded Greece in 279 BC. However, the beginning of the end of the Celtic dominion was due to being caught inbetween the expansion from the north by Germanic tribes and expansion from the south by the Romans. The Celtic tradition, wisdom, and culture perpetuated in the far west where Ireland remained outside the reach of Rome.The contributions of the Celts included working with iron, art, social structure, forging swords, jewelry, colorful clothing, warefare, poetry, cosmetics (makeup, fingernail polish), women owned property, women warriors, mining, ship building, road building, cultivation methods (fertilizer, crop rotation).They are credited with inventing chain mail, horseshoes, flour mill, plough, iron rimmed wagon wheels, soap, and much more.In addition, the Celts were known for their elaborate festivals and celebrations which survive today and are faithfully recreated as well as possible from surviving historical records.See Kevin Duffy's book Who Were the Celts for an exciting history. |