A Golden Age

Edward T. Wimberley, Ph.D.

The Celts: Blood, Iron, and Sacrific (2015) with Alice Roberts and Neil Oliver Anthropologist Prof. Alice Roberts and archaeologist Neil Oliver go in search of the Celts - one of the world's most mysterious ancient people.

Part two explores the golden age of the La Tene Celtic warrior and reveals how their world extended as far as central Turkey. But by the middle of the first century BC, the Celts were under threat from an expanding Roman Empire, and the Gallic warrior Vercingetorix would challenge Julius Caesar in an epic battle that would shape the future of Europe.

The five-part BBC Film Series (2001), The Celts, explores the origins and beliefs of the Celts in artifacts and human remains across Europe.

In episode two - "Heroes in Defeat" - the celts were the first European people north of the Alps to rise from anonymity. This program looks at who the Celts were, where they came from and what made their culture so distinctive

Video:

• The Celts: Blood, Iron & Sacrifice, Part Two;
• The Celts: Episode 2 "Heroes in Defeat".

Readings:

• Overview of the History of Celts;
• A Brief History of the Celts by Peter B. Ellis (Chapter 15);
• Evolution of the Celts (Maps)

Study Questions:

1. Describe the conflict that emerged between Romans and Celts?
2. What is the signficance of La T'ene to Celtic history and culture?
3. Describe some of the strage rituals associated with the Celts.
4. What was the signficance of Vercingetorix to Celtic history?
5. What is the significance of Celtic hill forts and where are they found?
6. What kinds of shapes and patterns are associated with Celtic art and aritifacts?