The Ancient Celts

1. Introduction
When I visited the Scotland, I saw Scottish music like the players of bug pipes. Celtic music
represented by famous female singer or Irish singer groups is popular and in France, there are
also similar musical instruments. This suggests me there is common cultural background. And
according to the Michael Rynch, Scottish Church was “Immediately subject to the papacy rather
that to Canterbury, Durham or York.” (Scotland A New History 1991 93page) in 12th Century.
In this Essay, I would describe Celtic history in Roman Empire days.

2．The definition of the Celts

So who were the Celtic people? For Herodotus they were inhabitants of current Portugal and
other early source of 6 century BC says Celtic city was a Greek City. Julius Caser says “We call
[them] Gauls though in their own languages they call they are called Celts.” Firstly, Gaul people
were barbaric and enemy of him. However it had rapidly changed and became friends of the
Rome-for new enemy Germans. So, until 1 st century, Celtic people were well known group who
did the activities in the continent.

3．Migration of the Celts

Why now does Celtic culture appear in the UK? This is because the large migration which
occurred in 5th Century. One account of this movement is for colonization. According to the
Polybius, it was “War and Agriculture” people were persuaded to serve under their patronage.
Another unanimous source says there was over population and people left for south believing
better life. Barry says in the Marne and Morselle regions ample evidence of overpopulation. 5the
century, it was warrior society As solution, leaders brought people new colonized distant
territories. And when they reached at Greece and Italy, Rome realized them as threat and after
number of fight, they are forced to be under the Control of Rome.

4．Casers’ description about the Celts

The impact of Celtic culture is significant and Ireland and Great Briton also had influence and
several Celtic languages were spoken there. Caser express them” The population was extremely
large and there were many farms closely resembling those of Caul. The most civilized of the
Britons are those who live in Kent.” Adding that “their way of life is very likely that of Gaul.” For
him, Briton people had similar life style with Celtic people but recognized they were different.
However, Rome put Britain Ireland under control more than 350 years. Among these long years,
its old customs and Celtic language were survived. After Celt culture was minority in the
 continent, 16centry it was focused again. Scottish Historian George Buchanan published “Return
scoticarum historia” in 1582 and he believed that the Celts originally lived in Italy, France and
Iberia. In his classical text, he insists that the Celts migrated to Ireland and Scotland. The Celt
story was very important factor to unify Scotland.

6．Conclusion
When I know Scotland has the days when ruled by the Roman Empire, I was surprised at it
because Rome is in the continent and why not Briton? My first hypothesis that North Part of the
Britain Ireland was not civilized and easily conquered by strong empire. However, “The Celts”
by Barry Cunliffe says different hypothesis. The Celtic Culture expanded so broad areas and did
the significant size migration. This was threat of Julius Caser and became the target community
to be conquered. This powerful history becomes heat of Scottish Cultural identity by Buchanan
later.

Barry Cunliffe THE CELTS – A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press)