Romans and Celts

• The Celts are believed to have originated around 4000 BC with the beginning of agriculture, leading to the creation of villages and settlements.
• The Bronze Age saw the introduction of metalworking in bronze and the creation of an axe industry, with nature gods as the main focus of worship.
• The Iron Age brought innovation and the importance of horsepower, leading to the creation of a network of trade and advanced agriculture, resulting in wealth.
• The Celts were the earliest group living on the British Isles, arriving from Europe and settling on the British Isles.
• The Celts were a multitude of different tribes from all over Europe, never united by politics but linked by language and culture.
• The Celts practiced polytheism, believing in multiple gods and godlike qualities of nature.
• The Celts had a 'Head Cult', where the head was the center of the body, with heads of enemies cut off and sacrificed.
• The Celts dressed in animal skin and fur.
• The Celts were illiterate and oral, with no written documents from that time, known as 'prehistory'.
• Traces of the Celtic language survived in the form of Irish, Welsh or Scottish Gaelic.
• The Celts are considered the greatest losers in history, with the Roman conquest eradicating almost all of Celtic culture.
• 2. What was the impact of the Romans on the British Isles?

  ↳ with Romans transition from prehistory to history

  55& 54 BC first 2 attempts at conquering by Julius Cesar (failed due to harsh conditions)

  43 AD Roman emperor Claudius succeded conquering large parts of Britain (not the whole!)

  ↳ southern half'because: showcase of Roman power (Claudius' reputation), also quick access to the sea &

  6 agricultural potential

  no Roman influence beyond Hadrian's Wall, territory occupied by Picts& Scots -resisted

  attacks of Romans (unfamiliar with terrain)-> unable to conquer
• The Romans ruled for 350 years.
• The Romans brought about a gradual romanisation of the South, introducing Roman products, religion and the Latin language.
• The Romans thought of the Britons as very uncivilised and primitive.
• The Romans centralised their rule, with one capital, one political system, one government, one ruler, and one trade system.
• The Romans introduced new roads for trade and connection, deciding where new centers should be, including London.
• The Romans were responsible for the first written documents and bureaucracy.
• The Romans introduced coin money and ushered in the Golden Age, a period of prosperity and wealth.
• Christianity was introduced as a new religion, leading to the end of tribal patterns.
• The Romans were responsible for warfare, with the Celts overtaking agriculture and taxation paying for the army to suppress rebellion.
• 3. What made Christianity attractive to the native inhabitants of the

  British Isles?

  Christianity = most important Roman influence (became dominant religion (

  · introduced aggressively, established very rapidly

  advantages: more personal religion, connection to (only one! )god -> monotheistic faith

  · idea of an afterlife -very tempting

  · Christian faith = fashionable/prestigious Creligion of the upper society)

  · correlation between system of government and religion (one god, one emperor

  · Uniform rules -> easy to follow
• Romans: ca. 43 AD (Claudius) - 410 AD