Gauls (Social Studies) Flashcards
Principal characteristics of the Gauls
- They were a decentralized band of tribes
- Located in North Western Europe, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, parts of Germany and Switzerland
- They had a common language, culture, religion and way of life.
- They were led by Vercingetorix; were fierce some wars, but they were looking a strong, economic or advanced weaponry or technologies.
- They were very superstitious and ritualistic
- They knew metallurgy and cavalry warfare, but their societies were more primitive, compared to the Romans or Carthaginians.
- They didn’t have giant cities, complex trading networks nor industrial production of goods and services.
- They fought and squabble amongst themselves, but they banded together to fight their common enemy, the Romans
Speak about the conflict with the Romans, without going deep through the battles of Gergovia and Alessia
According to the history, in 395-390 BC, the Gauls invaded and sacked Rome. As an answer, in 225-222 BC, the Romans conquered Cisalpine Gaul in the Battle of Telamon, a region between the Alps and the Po Valley (they were divided into two regions: Cisalpine Gaul and Transalpine Gaul). And, in 121 BC, they established their power in the southern Gaul.
With the arrival of the Julius Caesar, in 50 BC, they were killing, little by little, the population of the Gauls and taking them as prisoners; he orders to conquer the Gauls, located in the actual France.
The Celts had a population of 7 million people, in which 1 million were killed by the Romans. In 1 a.C, the Romans conquered almost all the territory of Great Britain (England and Wales, specifically). The rest of the Celts, that lived outside of these places, were defeated by the barbarians or Germanic tribes.
In the 5 a.C, all his population disappeared from Great Britain and Gaul; only his language survived.
Explain completely, with details, the Battle of Gergovia
When Caesar reached the town, he occupied a hill and established a fortified camp there. He quickly took another hill and established a small camp there.
Cesar observed a small hill that gave access to the town and that was practically defenseless. He launched an attack on the hill, which he took with relative ease; the soldiers continued their advance to the walls of the town.
They found there a strong resistance and were rejected with significant losses, especially among the centurions. At this point, Cesar was forced to lift the siege and withdraw from Gergovia.
The defeat of Gergovia was a hard blow for Cesar and an advantage for Vercingetorix.
The defeat caused some of Caesar’s older Gallic allies to pass over to the enemy.
Explain completely, with details, the Battle of Alessia
Caesar attacked Vercingetorix’s capital at Gergovia, but was repulsed. After a prolonged campaign, he succeeded in forcing Vercingetorix and about 60 000 men to defend the fortified hilltop town of Alesia.
Caesar ordered his men to construct a timber and earthen wall, 12 feet (3,6 m) high and 11 miles (18 km) long, to enclose the town: a circumvallation. The Gauls launched constant raids against the building works, but as the works neared completion, a strong force of cavalry burst through and rode off. The outer wall was similar to the inner one, but longer at 14 miles (22,5 km).
The Roman camps were placed between the two walls. In order to keep what food remained for his fighting men, Vercingetorix forced out of the gates all the women and children, in the expectation that they would be allowed through the Roman lines. Caesar refused to let the refugees pass, so they had no choice but to camp between the two armies, and slowly starved.
The remaining forces of the Gauls came on the way, and, together with the besieged army of Vercingetorix, attacked the Romans on both sides. With the walls about to break, 6000 Romans tried to cover those areas but it was impossible for them: the Gauls escaped. However, they were part of a great slaughter.
The next day, Vercingetorix and his men surrendered. Then, Vercingetorix was sent to Rome in chains. Five years later, he was part of Caesar’s triumphal parade and he was then executed by strangulation.
The Romans lost 12 800 of 60 000; Gallic, unknown number of dead, and 40 000 captured of 180 000.
