Pre-Celtic Britain, the Celts and the Romans - summary

Pre-Celtic Britain

Six thousand years ago, the land now we call “Britain” was inhabited by Iberians. They changed the landscape over the course of four centuries because they cut down and burned the forests to grow the ground, to breed cattle and to build ritual sites like Stonehenge. They produced pottery, salt and cloth.

The Celts

Around 700 BC the Celts began to arrive from Germany: today their language still remains in Wales, in Scotland and in Ireland. They were farmers, hunters, fishermen and, in particular, metal workers, in fact they created the iron plough to coltivate better. The Celts built also massive hill forts on top of hills which they used as tribal centers or refuges. Women were equal to men, in fact, they could choose their husband and, for example, became warrior queens. The Celts believed in immortality and in transmigration, and they worshipped the natural elements. The Druids were the priests, but also judges, doctors and teachers.

The Romans

Julius Caesar tried to settle Britain in 55 AD, but only in 43 AD Claudius conquered a part of this land. The Romans were attracted in particular by the strategic position as offshore base. In 122 AD, Hadrian ordered to build a wall to mark the borders between Britons and Scots(Picts). The Romans built over 9,600 km of paved roads to connect the military bases. Many of these towns’ name still ending in chester. The Roman also brought their language and their culture, but Roman control ended in 409 AD when they returned in Rome to difende the city from the Barbarians raiders.