Chapter 3: The Iron Age

Question 0

When did the Celts begin to Control Europe?

Answer 0

650BC

Question 1

When was iron discovered in Central Europe?

Answer 1

700BC

Question 2

When did the Celts settle in Ireland?

Answer 2

500BC

Question 3

Where did the Celts come from?

Answer 3

Central Europe - Halstatt & La Tène

Question 4

Where did the Celts spread their influence?

Answer 4

Much of Europe, especially Ireland, Britain, France, Spain and as far south as Turkey.

Question 5

What made the Celts stand out as separate people?

Answer 5

Their language and culture.

Question 6

Did the Celts leave written accounts of how they lived and ruled?

Answer 6

No

Question 7

How do we know so much about the Celts?

Answer 7

The Greeks and the Romans wrote about them

Question 8

What is Ogham?

Answer 8

A basic form of alphabet, consisting of a series of notches carved onto a standing stone to mark graves or land boundaries.

Question 9

How do we know that the Celts were proud of their appearance?

Answer 9

They were fined if their belly stuck out when their belt was tightened, they had brightly coloured clothes and they dyed their hair.

Question 10

What clothing did Celtic men wear?

Answer 10

They wore woollen trousers called bracae, soft leather boots and a sleeveless shirt in summer which was tied around their waist with a belt or clip. In cold weather, long-sleeved woollen tunics were worn and a heavy woollen cloak was added if the weather was severe.

Question 11

What did Celtic women wear?

Answer 11

They wore long woollen dresses, fastened at the waist with a leather belt or buckle. They wore a shawl over their shoulders or a heavy cloak in winter. They wore leather boots or sandals in their feet.

Question 12

How did the Celts dye their clothes?

Answer 12

They used berries and plants to dye the wool and make patterns of checks and stripes.

Question 13

What did the Celts do to their hair?

Answer 13

They dyed it blond by washing it in water mixed with lime. The hair was then brushed back and spiked up to make them look more fierce in battle. A dye called woad was also used as war paint on their bodies.

Question 14

What was used to fasten the Celts clothes?

Answer 14

Large pins or brooches made by skilled craftspeople.

Question 15

What was mainly used when crafting jewellery?

Answer 15

Gold.

Question 16

What were neck torcs, and who wore them?

Answer 16

Wealthy Celts wore neck torcs, which were a type of necklace made of gold and silver and decorated with patterns of spirals and flowers. The gold was stretched into fine strips before it was woven like a rope. An example of a torc is the Broighter Torc, found in Derry.

Question 17

When did the Celts discover how to make glass?

Answer 17

Around 250BC.

Question 18

What did the Celts use glass for?

Answer 18

They could only make it in small quantities, and therefore not for windows, so they mixed it with powdered copper and other minerals while it was still in liquid form to make beautiful glass beads which were used in bracelets ands brooches.

Question 19

What were the social ranks in Celtic society?

Answer 19

Ireland was divided into around 150 tuaths (kingdoms), each ruled by their own rí (king) and derbhfine (royal family). A táiniste (successor) was chosen during the king’s lifetime, to ensure a peaceful changeover after the death of the king. Next in line were the nobles, which were made. Up of the Aos Dána (skilled people). It was common for the nobles to send their sons to be brought up and trained by other families until they were 14. This was called fosterage.

Question 20

What was the role of the Warriors?

Answer 20

The Celtic warriors protected the tuath, hunted wild animals such as boar, and led cattle raids against other tribes.

Question 21

What was the hero’s portion?

Answer 21

Feasts were held to celebrate the Warriors victory in battle, and the bravest warrior would get to pick the best piece of meat from the roasted joint. Sometimes, fights broke out between leading warriors about this.

Question 22

What did Celtic warriors do with the heads of their enemies?

Answer 22

They cut them off and kept them as trophies.

Question 23

Who were in the Aos Dána?

Answer 23

The brehons (judges), the filí (poets), Druids and craftsmen.

Question 24

What was the role of the brehons?

Answer 24

They settled disputes between people and remembered the ancient brehons laws that were passed down from generation to generation. Celts that broke the law were fined, which were paid with cattle.

Question 25

What did the Druids do?

Answer 25

The Druids were a type of priest that preformed ceremonies during the Celtic festivals.

Question 26

What was the role of the Filí?

Answer 26

They learned the history and legends of the Celts by composing poetry and learning it by heart. They trained for 20 years. Bards were employed by nobles to compose poetry praising the noble and his family. They recited or sang these poems at important occasions.

Question 27

What type of people did the craftsmen include?

Answer 27

Craftsmen included carpenters and metal workers.

Question 28

Who was in the lowest group of Celtic society?

Answer 28

Labourers and slaves, who were probably captured in battle and forced to work on the farms of nobles.

Question 29

Why were Celtic women so important?

Answer 29

They had the raise children, cook and make clothes.

Question 30

What was unusual about the Celts, in comparison to the Greeks and Romans?

Answer 30

Women could own property.

Question 31

Who were two powerful Celtic women?

Answer 31

Queen Boudicca, was a famous warrior in England, and Queen Medb, was a powerful queen of Connacht.

Question 32

Where did nobles and large farmers live?

Answer 32

Raths/Ringforts.

Question 33

Describe a rath/ringfort.

Answer 33

A rath consisted of a circular area with a timber wall, surrounded by a ditch. Many raths had underground passages called souterrains. They were lined with stone and may have been used as a type of fridge to keep meat and other food cold. Valuables could also be stored there, and they may have been a place of refuge during raid. Raths made of stone are called casheld. Houses built within the rath were made from wattle and daub.

Question 34

What were crannógs?

Answer 34

Crannógs were dwellings built on man-made islands in lakes. They get their name from ‘crann óg’ meaning ‘young tree’. This is a reference to the saplings used to build the walls. The artificial islands were built by dumping pieces of wood, stones, rocks and mud into the lake. Houses similar to the rath were built on the island. They were reached by a wooden bridge or boat.

Question 35

What were hillforts?

Answer 35

Hillforts were raths built on top of hills, which offered great protection. Hillforts built on cliff-tops were known as promontory forts. Large stones are at the front of the hillfort to offer protection against chariots.

Question 36

What determined a Celts wealth?

Answer 36

The amount of cattle they owned.

Question 37

What other animals did the Celts keep?

Answer 37

Sheep, pigs and horses.

Question 38

What did the Celts grow?

Answer 38

Vegetables like carrots, cabbage and turnips and cereals such as wheat, barley and oats.

Question 39

What else did the Celts eat?

Answer 39

Fruit and berries.

Question 40

What games did the Celts play?

Answer 40

Brandubh and ficheall which were like draughts and chess and báire was similar to hurling, except the ball was driven into the ground.

Question 41

Why were the Druids so important before Christianity?

Answer 41

They explained the actions and work of the gods to the people.

Question 42

What was the Druids main task?

Answer 42

To learn the sacred reaching of those that went before them by heart.

Question 43

What special things could the Druids do?

Answer 43

They could offer sacrifices to the gods and preform ceremonies during Celtic festivals

Question 44

Why were sacrifices offered?

Answer 44

To thank the gods for a good harvest or a mild winter, and during special festivals.

Question 45

What were used as sacrifices?

Answer 45

Mainly animals, but sometimes humans, and the Druids sometimes threw weapons and gold or bronze objects into wells and lakes to please the gods.

Question 46

Who was the most important God?

Answer 46

Daghda, the God of the afterlife. He was married to the goddess Boann.

Question 47

Who was the God of warriors?

Answer 47

Lug.

Question 48

Who was the sea God?

Answer 48

Manannán Mac Lir.

Question 49

What were the four main festivals during the year?

Answer 49

Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa.

Question 50

What was Samhain?

Answer 50

The most important festival as it marked the beginning of a new year. It took place on November 1st, which was not considered to be a day of the new year or the one passed and thought to be a day of magical happenings, where the loving could meet the dead. We celebrate this day on October 31st. It was also when animals were brought in from the fields. Animals not needed for breeding were often killed during the festival and the meat was stored for the winter.

Question 51

What did Imbolc represent?

Answer 51

It was celebrated on February 1st (St. Brigid’s Day) and represented the end of winter and the beginning of new growth.

Question 52

What happened during Bealtaine, the second most important festival?

Answer 52

Bonfires were lit, and sacrifices were made in the hope of a good harvest. The cattle would be driven by the Druids inbetween to fires before being put out to pasture, which was believed to be a protection against disease.

Question 53

What was Lughnasa?

Answer 53

The last major Celtic festival, celebrated on August 1st as the harvest was about to be lifted. It was hoped that the harvest would be plentiful, and provide them with enough food for winter.

Question 54

Why were forests considered sacred places?

Answer 54

The Druids believed that nature was magical. Oak trees especially were special.

Question 55

Where were herbs gathered and what were they used for?

Answer 55

They were gathered in forests and used for potions to cure sick people and animals.

Question 56

Why did the Druids not accept Christianity?

Answer 56

It led to the decline of their importance.

Question 57

Why did some kings welcome Christianity?

Answer 57

They believed that the Druids had too much power.

Question 58

What did the a Celts do to their dead?

Answer 58

They cremated to body and placed the ashes in an urn in a pit or cist grave, along with jewellery, weapons, food and drink.