A Brief Overview of the Celtic Tribes 750 B.C.-50 B.C.

...This post is intended to be a reference on The early Celts. I will be answering the following seven questions in short summary, hopefully this will help those who want a brief overview for papers etc...

1. Geographic Setting?
2. Government?
3. Religious Beliefs?
4. Written Works?
5. Arts and Sciences?
6. Occupations?
7. Inventions and Achievements?


1. Geographic Setting?

...The early Celts were quite spread out, the maps below show the extent of their wanderings. Scholars often divide the Celts into roughly four groups; the Gauls in France, Iberians in Spain and Portugal, Cisalpine Gauls in Italy, and Britons/Gaels in the British Isles.



2. Government?

...For the most part the Tribes were led by Kings/Chieftains, often elected for their physical prowess in earlier times. (The process was called the Consensus of the "Thing", a gathering of tribal leaders) There is some debate over the possibility of there having been primitive forms of Oligarchical Republic forms of government. Society was divided into three distinct groups; the Warrior Aristocracy, the Bards or Druids (Learned men who filled the roles of priests, judges and lore-keepers), and finally the common class.

...It is interesting that the Celts in there early forms of government can be compared to the Greeks. Each were ruled by smaller warring factions and alliances. They each had Tribal loyalties over National Patriotism. This made it easy for both to fall to Rome when she came along.


3. Religious Beliefs?

...The Celts were Polytheistic in the extreme. They had literally hundreds of gods and goddesses who were often associated with nature and special skills. Druids were the "Priests" who performed ritual sacrifices to ensure things like good harvests and success in war. The Celts probably had human sacrifices as well as cows, sheep and fruit of the fields. Often Druids traveled through different villages performing the duties of their office and bearing news. (A note to the side, aside from gods and goddesses the Celts had superstitions about fairies and brownies)



4. Written Works?

...Very little has survived from the Ancient Celts who were often referred to as the "hidden people". They had superstitions about writing their knowledge down, and preferred to pass it on by word of mouth. However as a side note, some claim that the art of Rhyme in poetry was invented by the Celts.



5. Arts and Sciences?

... The Celts were a very talented and industrious people. They invented the beautiful Celtic scroll work and knots which so many cultures admire today. They invented the La Tene art; special patterns for ornamentation featuring swirls and spirals. (Later on medieval monks used this to decorate manuscripts) Aside from this the Celts were skilled in metalwork and knew how to forge iron weapons.

6. Occupations?

...In Ancient Celtic times a man was often born into his profession. Sons usually followed the trade of their father. Some occupations might have been; Farming, Silver Smiths, Metal Work, Jewelers, and Hunting.

7. Inventions and Achievements?

...Aside from the previously mentioned metal work with iron and inventions in poetry, the Celts are attributed with creating chain mail and soap. They may also have had chariots before the Romans, some believe the Romans got the idea from the Celts.

A Satyrical Summary of the Punic Wars: Part 3

Punic War No. 3 149-146 B.C.
...As the shortest and most violent of the Punic Wars, the third is also the most unsatisfactory. At least to this Historian. Carthage and Rome could not settle their differences, it was inevitable that one at least should be destroyed. A well respected Roman senator named Cato would end every speech in this way, "furthermore, it is my opinion that Carthage must be destroyed". (Talk about off topic, what if his speech had been on the need for public plumbing?)

...Eventually the Romans decided to take Cato's advice seriously and prepared for another assault on Carthage. The Carthaginians got wind of it and immediately started casting about for a plan that would appease the Romans and buy them more time. A council arrived from Carthage to lay the matter before Rome, asking what they wanted in return for peace. The Romans thought about, and probably did some serious head scratching. In the end they demanded that three hundred of the Carthaginian nobles children be sent as permanent hostages to Rome. And they were sent.

...But Rome was not ready to drop the matter, they really wanted Carthage destroyed. In fact, an excellent excuse presented itself on cue. The Carthaginians attacked Numidia, a neighboring country that had been causing problems. Numidia was an ally of Rome however, and the Romans were not inclined to think lightly of the matter. Numidia won the war with Carthage, and Carthage who had just made the final payment to Rome for the last war's expenses, found herself in debt again- this time to Numidia. (Talk about debt, I would think maybe it was time to stop the wars, at least if you cannot win them).

...All this made it easy for Rome to bully Carthage, who was getting weaker and weaker. Carthage had relied upon mercanaries to do most of her fighting and now without money could not afford to raise an army. Rome on the other hand had a standing army made up of its own citizens which gave her a considerable advantage when combined with the fact she was winning most battles. So Rome made an impossable demand on the Carthaginians, "If you want peace you may have it. But first you must move your city ten miles inland".

...This was an impossable demand, and the Carthaginians knew it. To move their city meant to destroy it and rebuild, something they had not the money, man power nor desire to do. It was a declaration of all out war down to the last man.

...The Carthaginian ambassadors hurried back to Carthage where they spread the bad news. "Sorry guys, even after sending your children we are going to have to fight to the death. At least those kids are out of harms way". The citizens of Carthage roused themselves to action, since they had no army they would have to defend themselves. Which they were determined to do, this was a fight for the survival of a people.

...The women cut of their hair and gave it to the men who made it into catupult strings, and in a short time they mustered up thousends of makeshift weapons. A rag tag mass of people stood defiantly upon the walls of Carthage when Rome's uniformed army came in sight. What must the Romans have been thinking?

...Whatever the Romans thought, the Carthaginians lasted longer than anyone could have expected. They withstood the initial onslaught of the world's most powerful fighting force and won for themselves a brave last stand. But it was a last stand. A new general called Scipio Aemilianus arrived to head Rome's army, and he new his business. Although it took him three years of siege he breached Carthage's walls and burned it to the ground. (After sacking and plundering of course)

...Thus ended the Punic Wars, and the satyrical commentary. In my opinion two things can be learned here. 1. Never start a war your citizens aren't going to fight themselves... 2. Make sure you have enough money to cover yours and your enemies expenses, just in case you loose.

...Furthermore, it is my opinion that spiritual death and war must be destroyed through the power of the Gospel.