Text 1. The Celtic Tribes

During the period from the 6th to the 3rd century B.C. a people called the Celts spread across Europe from the east to the west.

More than one Celtic tribe invaded Britain. From time to time these tribes were attacked and overcome by other Celtic tribes from the Continent.

Celtic tribes called the Picts penetrated into the mountains on the North; some Picts as well as tribes of Scots crossed over to Ireland and settled there. Later the Scots returned to the larger island and settled in the North beside the Picts. They came in such large numbers that in time the name of Scotland was given to that country. Powerful Celtic tribes, the Britons, held most of the country, and the southern part of the island was named Britain after them. Today the words 'Briton' and 'British' refer to the people of the whole of the British Isles.

The earliest writer from whom we have learned much about the country and its inhabitants was Julius Caesar. In his Commentaries on the Gallic War Julius Caesar describes the island and the Celts against whom he fought. He tells us that in their mode of life the British Celts differed little from the Celtic tribes of the Gaels who lived on the Continent. In the 1st century B.C. they lived in tribes, and were ruled by chiefs whom all the tribesmen obeyed. The chiefs were military leaders and some of them were very powerful.

The Celts had no towns; they lived in villages. They were acquainted with the use of copper, tin and iron and they kept large herds of cattle and sheep which formed their chief wealth. They also cultivated crops, especially corn. They used light ploughs as well as hoes, and grew their crops in small, square fields. Some of the Celtic tribes were quite large and fighting was common among them. In war time the Celts wore skins and painted their faces with a blue dye to make themselves look fierce. They were armed with swords and spears and used chariots on the battle-field. These chariots were drawn by two or four horses. Caesar writes that the Celts charged fiercely in the battle.

The Celts worshipped Nature. They imagined the sky, the sun the moon the earth and the sea, to be ruled by beings like themselves, but much more powerful. They also believed in many nameless spirits who lived in the rivers, lakes, mountains and thick forests. Priests called druids were very important and powerful, sometimes more powerful than the chiefs. The Celts believed the druids were able to foretell the future and the druids very often acted as prophets. The tribesmen often called upon druids to settle disputes. The druids could give orders to begin battle or to put down arms and stop fighting. The druids were also teachers and doctors for they were wiser than the other tribesmen. Wise women were also considered to be very important. There were women prophets, and women warriors who trained young men in arms; some women were made tribal chiefs and called queens.