Chapter 3 - The Iron Age + The Arrival Of The Celts Flashcards
When did the Celts settle in Ireland, and where did they come from?
Around 500 BC onwards
Dominated Europe before Romans took control
Originally came from Central Europe but eventually spread influence over much of continent, especially in Ireland, Britain, France + Spain
What was Ogham?
A basic type of alphabet of the Celts where they cut a series of notches into the edge of a standing stone
This allowed them to record the surname of the person buried beneath it
Describe the clothing of the Celts
Men:
Woollen trousers called bracae, boots made from soft leather
In summer wore sleeveless shirt tied around waist with belt/clip
In cooler weather wore woollen tunic with long sleeves
In severe weather heavy woollen cloaks
Liked to dye hair blonde, to do this washed hair in water mixed with lime, then spiked it up
Also sometimes used woad as war paint (plant dye)
Women:
Long woollen dresses fastened around waist with leather belt/buckle
Wore shawl over shoulders, or heavy cloak in winter
Leather boots/sandals worn on feet
Celts liked brightly coloured clothes
Used berries + plants to dye the wool different colours + produce patterns of checks + stripes
Describe the arts and crafts of the Celts
Large pins/brooches made by skilled craftsmen used to fasten clothes (many of simple design, not decorated)
Believed that beautiful ones found were worn by rich Celts/for special occasions
Gold was preferred choice
Wealthy Celts also wore neck torcs made of gold/silver + decorated with patterns of flowers/spirals
Gold stretched into fine strips + woven like rope
e.g. Broighter Torc (Derry)
Celts discovered how to make glass in 250 BC but could only make it in small quantities so no windows
Powdered copper + other minerals mixed with it while still liquid to make beautiful coloured beads used in bracelets/ brooches
What was the hierarchy in Celtic society?
No one king
Ireland divided into around 150 kingdoms (tuath), each controlled by rí + derbhfine (royal family)
Tanáiste (successor) often chosen during lifetime of king (to secure peaceful changeover of power upon death of king)
Next in line were nobles - made up of landowners, warriors + the Aos Dána (skilled people)
Common for nobles to send sons to be trained + brought up by other families until 14 (fosterage)
Describe Celtic warriors
Trained fighters that protected the thatch
Also hunted wild animals (e.g. boar) + led cattle raids against other tribes
Liked to tell stories about bravery, hunting skills + victories in battle
Feasts held to celebrate success
Bravest warrior entitled to cut best piece of meat from roast joint (hero’s portion) - sometimes fights broke out between leading warriors over this
Celtic warriors also known to have cut off heads of enemies + sometimes kept them as trophies
Who were the Aos Dána? Describe them
The skilled people
Members included the Brehons (judges), the Druids (priests), the Filí (poets) + craftsmen
Brehons settled disputes + were responsible for remembering Brehons laws that had been passed down through generations (Celts that broke the law usually fined, fined usually paid in cattle)
Druid were type of priest that performed ceremonies during important Celtic festivals
Filí trained for 20 years, had to learn history + legends of Celts by composing poetry + learning it by heart…others called bards employed by nobles to compose poetry praising him + family - learnt these poems + recited/told them at important occasions
Craftsmen included carpenters + metalworkers
Who were the lowest group in Celtic society?
Labourers + slaves who worked for he nobles
Probably captured in balles + forced to work on farms of nobles
What was the role of women in Celtic society?
Tastes of cooking, making clothes + bringing up children mainly carried out by women
Unlike other ancient civilisations, noble women could own property
Some Celtic women (e.g. Queen Boudicca, England) became famous warriors
Medb was powerful queen of Connacht
Name five types of Celtic dwelling
- Rath/ringfort
- Cashel
- Crannóg
- Hillfort
- Promontory fort
Describe a rath/ringfort
Common, nobles + farmers lived in such settlements
Poorer people probably lived in nearby small mud cabins
Rath consisted of circular area, protected by raised bank with type of timber wall surrounded by a ditch on the outside
Houses built from wattle and daub inside these enclosures
Many raths had underground passages known as souterrains (lined with stones, may have acted as type of Iron Age fridge to keep meat etc. cold; valuables could also be stored here + families may have taken refuge during raids)
Describe a cashel
A rath where the walls are made of stone
Found in the west of Ireland where the ground is stonier
Describe a crannóg
Dwellings built on man-made islands in lakes
Name is probably a reference to use of saplings to build walls of crannóg
Artificial islands built by dumping stones, rocks, mud + pieces of wood into the lake
Houses similar to rath built on island
Island reached by boat/wooden bridge
Offered great protection from potential attackers/wild animals
Describe a hillfort
Raths built on top of hills
Great protection, gave view over surrounding area
e.g. Hill of Tara
Describe a promontory fort
Hillfort built on cliff-top locations on headlands
e.g. Dún Aengus on Aran Islands (protected by 100m cliff face, large stones built up on other side)
