Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

105

Celts

METALWORKING

The Celts worked with many different

metals, including iron, bronze, copper,

gold, and silver. Farm tools, weapons,

shields, chariots, and helmets were made

from metal, and many were beautifully

decorated with distinctive plants

and animals, as shown on the border

around this page.

Woven wooden

frame of hut

BOADICEA
In 61 ce Boadicea (or Boudicca),
queen of the Iceni, a Celtic tribe
in Britain, led a massive revolt
against oppression by the Romans.
The Britons, however, were no match
for the well-organized Romans, and
the revolt was suppressed.

The spread

of Celtic

occupation

in Europe

DRUIDS

Druids, a very important group

in Celtic society, were priests

who led religious ceremonies,

acted as judges and advisers,

and were responsible for

teaching the sons of chiefs.

Druidism involved the worship

of many gods. Oak trees and

mistletoe were also sacred

to Druids.

6th-5th centuries BCE

TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO much of western Europe was

inhabited by a fierce, proud, artistic people known as the Celts.

They were skilled warriors, farmers, and metalworkers. For several

hundred years their art and culture dominated northwestern

Europe. All Celts shared a similar way of life, but they were not a

single group of people. They included many different tribes, such

as the Atrebates of southern Britain and the Parisii of northern

France. Most Celts lived in villages or hill forts, some of which

developed into small towns. But the Celts

never formed a unified nation. Between

300 bce and 100 ce they were absorbed

into the Roman Empire. Today, Celtic-

speaking people can still be found

in parts of Britain, Ireland,

and France.

Huts were covered

in clay and thatch

to protect them

from bad weather.

The Celts

wove their

own cloth

on looms.

Early

Celts

CELTIC LANDS

The earliest Celts lived in central

Europe, in what is now southern

Germany. By about 500 bce, Celts had

spread out to cover much of Europe,

from Ireland to the Black Sea.

Find out more

Iron age

Livestock was

kept for food and

dairy produce.

THE HOME

Celtic families lived

together in one large

hut. Some huts were

made of stone; others

of wattle and daub—

wood-framed huts

covered in clay to

make a hard wall.

Thatch was often

used to keep the rain

out. An iron cauldron

hung over a fire for

cooking meat or boiling

water. Bread was cooked in a domed

clay oven. Members of the family wove

cloth, worked as farmers, or made pots.

4th century BCE