IN SEARCH OF THE ROOTS
PEOPLES OF BRITAIN
When was the concept of being British created?
In 1707 with the union of England, Scotland and Wales
Why?
To create a pan-British monarchy
Before that union there was no concept of ‘being British’, Why?
Because Britain was just a geographical entity with no political meaning or cultural identity
Before the Roman and Viking invasions of Britain, how were the appearances of the three peoples
different?
Scotland: red-haided
England: lanky blondes
Wales: small, dark-haired
The author argues that one cannot label the people or culture of the British Iron Age ‘Celtic’. Why?
Because there was no unity of the people in Britain. They didn’t see themselves as one, they just had
the same language, religion and culture. Also Celtic was an invention of the 18 th century and is used
to talk about language, art and culture.
TRADITIONALLY ARCHEOLOGY
- Invaders who displaced their predecessors - genetic continuity of population
- Large scale migrations - slow changes of the gene pool of
the Island
BBC DOCUMENTARY: A HISTORY OF CELTIC BRITAIN
In 500BC there was a huge transformation
‐ After the bronze Age, Britain became a Britain of regional identities
‐ Creation of tools (that we still use today)
‐ Land and green had replaced bronze as a sort of prestige
‐ A time of iron-made warriors and Celtic glory, when tribal believers started to believe they were
kings
Danebury Hill Fort and Woolbury Hill Fort illustrate:
‐ Trade = local
‐ There were many different Hill Forts competing for land
‐ Britain started to fill up
TENSION
, When and how could you gain status in the Iron Age?
By gaining land
CELTIC HISTORY
The iron age= the age of ‘Celt’ in Britain
The concept of being ‘Celtic’ is a romantic reinterpretation of history.
‘The Celts’ were warring tribes who didn’t see themselves as one people at the time.
In Roman stories: celts = barbarians / Romans = great civilizing force history written by winners
Celts were a group of peoples loosely tied by similar language, religion and cultural expression.
They were warriors who lived for the glories of battle and plunder + they brought iron working to the
British Isles.
More large hill forts were built. 1: by the native Britons to defend themselves from the encroaching
Celts 2: by the Celts as they moved their way into hostile territory (= vijandig gebied)
The things we know about them comes to us through the old tales and poems oral traditions
Druids: a sort of super-class of priests, political advisors, teachers, healers and arbitrators + they had
the right to speak ahead of the king and may have held more authority than the king. In times of war
they acted as ambassadors and they made the law they were some sort of glue holding together
Celtic culture
They had their own universities where they passed on their knowledge by routine.
Celtic warriors cut off their enemies heads in battle as some sort of trophies. To the Celt the seat of
spiritual power was the head.
The first cemeteries of ordinary people’s burials
THE ROMAN AGE
Which places belonged to Roman Britain? Which places didn’t?
Roman Britain: most of present-day England and Wales + influence over the southern part of
Scotland
NOT: Ireland + the rest of Scotland
Can you still find much evidence of the Roman era in Britain?
No, they left very little behind except from place names.
in many other places they left a system of law and administration.
PEOPLES OF BRITAIN
When was the concept of being British created?
In 1707 with the union of England, Scotland and Wales
Why?
To create a pan-British monarchy
Before that union there was no concept of ‘being British’, Why?
Because Britain was just a geographical entity with no political meaning or cultural identity
Before the Roman and Viking invasions of Britain, how were the appearances of the three peoples
different?
Scotland: red-haided
England: lanky blondes
Wales: small, dark-haired
The author argues that one cannot label the people or culture of the British Iron Age ‘Celtic’. Why?
Because there was no unity of the people in Britain. They didn’t see themselves as one, they just had
the same language, religion and culture. Also Celtic was an invention of the 18 th century and is used
to talk about language, art and culture.
TRADITIONALLY ARCHEOLOGY
- Invaders who displaced their predecessors - genetic continuity of population
- Large scale migrations - slow changes of the gene pool of
the Island
BBC DOCUMENTARY: A HISTORY OF CELTIC BRITAIN
In 500BC there was a huge transformation
‐ After the bronze Age, Britain became a Britain of regional identities
‐ Creation of tools (that we still use today)
‐ Land and green had replaced bronze as a sort of prestige
‐ A time of iron-made warriors and Celtic glory, when tribal believers started to believe they were
kings
Danebury Hill Fort and Woolbury Hill Fort illustrate:
‐ Trade = local
‐ There were many different Hill Forts competing for land
‐ Britain started to fill up
TENSION
, When and how could you gain status in the Iron Age?
By gaining land
CELTIC HISTORY
The iron age= the age of ‘Celt’ in Britain
The concept of being ‘Celtic’ is a romantic reinterpretation of history.
‘The Celts’ were warring tribes who didn’t see themselves as one people at the time.
In Roman stories: celts = barbarians / Romans = great civilizing force history written by winners
Celts were a group of peoples loosely tied by similar language, religion and cultural expression.
They were warriors who lived for the glories of battle and plunder + they brought iron working to the
British Isles.
More large hill forts were built. 1: by the native Britons to defend themselves from the encroaching
Celts 2: by the Celts as they moved their way into hostile territory (= vijandig gebied)
The things we know about them comes to us through the old tales and poems oral traditions
Druids: a sort of super-class of priests, political advisors, teachers, healers and arbitrators + they had
the right to speak ahead of the king and may have held more authority than the king. In times of war
they acted as ambassadors and they made the law they were some sort of glue holding together
Celtic culture
They had their own universities where they passed on their knowledge by routine.
Celtic warriors cut off their enemies heads in battle as some sort of trophies. To the Celt the seat of
spiritual power was the head.
The first cemeteries of ordinary people’s burials
THE ROMAN AGE
Which places belonged to Roman Britain? Which places didn’t?
Roman Britain: most of present-day England and Wales + influence over the southern part of
Scotland
NOT: Ireland + the rest of Scotland
Can you still find much evidence of the Roman era in Britain?
No, they left very little behind except from place names.
in many other places they left a system of law and administration.
