The Celts/Iron Age Flashcards
Why do we know more about the Celts than any other early settlers in Ireland?
Ancient Greek and Roman writers and the written records of the early Christian monks in Ireland and archaeological evidence.
When did the Celts come to Ireland?
500BC
What did the Greeks and Romans call and describe them?
Greeks called the Celts Keltoi
The Romans called them Gauls
Plato wrote they were a warlike people who drank too much wine
Many Roman writers used the word excessive to describe the Celts appearance and dress as well as their attitude to religion and war
What laws did the Celts go by?
Brehon law
Who was in Celtic society?
- The rí (who belonged to the derbhfine)
- Warriors
- Aos Dána
- Farmers
- Slaves
Who was in the Aos Dána?
Judges (Brehons) Druids (priests) Doctors Filí (poets) Bards (musicians) Craftspeople (smiths, carpenters, masons)
What is a tuath?
A tuath is a small kingdom. Each one was ruled by a rí (king). There were over 150 in Ireland
What status did women have in Celtic times?
Noble women held an important position in Celtic society, under Brehon law they could own property
however, most women did not belong to the noble classes and had little power or influence – they spent their time cooking, spinning, weaving and taking care of the children
What kind of settlements were there in Celtic times?
- Raths (sometimes called ringforts or cashels)
- Crannógs
- Hillforts
- Promontory forts
What is a rath?
Raths were forts enclosed by circular ditches or mounds of earth.
The for inside was usually built with wood but sometimes was built with stone. If it was built with stone it was called a cashel
What is a crannóg?
Crannógs were man-made islands in lakes. They were linked to the main land using a wooden bridge or sometimes stepping stones. They were built with wood, mud, styones and twigs.
What is a hillfort?
Hillforts were like raths but much bigger and built on a hill
What is a promontory fort?
Promontory forts were built on cliff tops
What animals did Celts have?
They had cattle, sheep and pigs
Why were cattle so important to the Celts?
Wealth was measured by the amount of cattle you had
What crops did Celts grow?
Barley, oats and wheat
What were the crops used for in Celtic times?
Barley = to make ale Oats = porridge Wheat = made into flour to make bread
What is a rotary quern stone?
Used to grind wheat to make flour
How did the Celts cook meat?
On a spit or in a cauldron over a fire
What did Celtic men wear?
Léine = a knee-length tunic tied at the waist with a crois
What did Celtic women wear?
Ankle-length tunics
What did Celts wear in winter?
They wore woollen cloaks called brats that were pinned at the shoulder with a gold or silver brooch
Did Celts wear make-up and jewellry?
Yes men and women did
Did Celts believe in an afterlife?
Yes
What did druids wear and were they well respected?
The Druids were very well respected by the Celts
They wore white linen tunics when they performed religious ceremonies
What did the Celts do with their dead?
They cremated them and buried the ashes in the ground
What did the Celts look like?
According to legends they were tall, blonde and good looking
