The Ancient CeltsFierce warriors and skilled craftsmen, the Celts were famous throughout the ancient Mediterranean world, the archetypal barbarians from the north, feared by both Greeks and Romans. And though this ancient thousand-year-old civilization was crushed by the military campaigns of Julius Caesar, the Celts remain an object of fascination to this day. Now, in The Ancient Celts, Barry Cunliffe, one of the world's leading authorities on European prehistory, explores the true nature of the Celtic identity and presents the first thorough and up-to-date account of a people whose origins still provoke heated debate. Drawing on a wealth of recent archaeological findings, Cunliffe reveals how this loose band of nomads evolved from migratory barbarians into adroit traders and artists, inhabiting virtually every corner of Europe north of the Po. Beginning in the Hungarian plains of 1300 B.C., where the first hints of Celtic culture can be traced, the book shows how this fierce people slowly grew into one of Europe's most feared powers, constantly raiding and threatening the empires of both Greece and the Rome. Cunliffe demonstrates how the unprecedented Celtic diaspora gave way to the development of a number of mature, urban societies scattered throughout the continent. The book pays ample tribute to Celtic economic prowess, revealing how the civilization shrewdly took advantage of Europes tin, cooper, and gold resources to become both a respected trading partner with Rome and a nation of skilled artisans who forged some of the greatest weaponry of pre-antiquity. The book also describes the Celtss pantheistic religious traditions, with detailed accounts of weapon burials, human sacrifices, and the meditative powers of the Druids, and it concludes with a look at the influences of the Celtic mystique on the modern world, revealing how the concept of the Celt has been used many times by nations in search for an identity. From the Victorians glorification of Boudicca, to linguistic influences in Ireland and Britain, to the common bond of Celtic ancestry that virtually every European shares, this comprehensive history demystifies the world of the Celts as never before. A fascinating history blending insightful narrative with vivid detail, and boasting over 200 illustrations--including 24 color plates--and 30 maps, The Ancient Celts is an indispensable guide to this age-old, intriguing culture. |
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The ancient Celts
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictThis survey of the origins of the Celts and their expansion during the Iron Age through their largely successful subjection by the Romans is sure to be of interest to many readers. Cunliffe (European ... Read full review
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Contents
Visions of the Celts l | 1 |
The Reality of the Celts | 20 |
1300400 bc | 39 |
Copyright | |
16 other sections not shown
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Aedui Alps amphorae archaeological evidence Armorica Asia Minor barbarian Barry Cunliffe battle began Boii Boudica Britain British Brittany Bronze Age Caesar campaigns Celtiberian Celtic art Celtic communities Celtic language Celtic society Celtic world Celts central Europe centre chariot classical coast complex craftsmen Dacian Danube dating decorated deities deposition developed Druids early east eastern Etruscan excavation fifth century flagon fourth century France Galatians Gaul Gaulish Germanic gold grave Greek groups Hallstatt Iberia Ireland Irish Iron Age Late Bronze Age Marne Mediterranean Middle Danube migration millennium movement native northern oppida oppidum Peninsula Phoenician Polybius Pontic Pontic Steppe population Poseidonius pottery raid region Rhine ritual Roman Rome route Scythian second century bc settlement shield significant sixth century bc social southern status stone structure style suggest survived sword territory third century bc Thracian tion torc trade tradition tribes Valley Vercingetorix Wales warrior western
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Bibliographic information
| Title | The Ancient Celts |
| Author | Barry W. Cunliffe |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, 1997 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | Jun 9, 2008 |
| ISBN | 0198150105, 9780198150107 |
| Length | 324 pages |
| Subjects | › › History / Ancient / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |