Celts

Celts were an ethnolinguistic group of tribal societies in Iron Age and Medieval Europe who spoke Celtic languages and had a similar culture, although the relationship between the ethnic, linguistic and cultural elements remains uncertain and controversial.

Origins

The exact geographic spread of the ancient Celts is disputed; in particular, the ways in which the Iron Age inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland should be regarded as Celts have become a subject of controversy. According to one theory, the common root of the Celtic languages, the Proto-Celtic language, arose in the Late Bronze Age Urnfield culture of Central Europe, which flourished from around 1200 BC.

Society

Celtic societies were tribal, with the society centered around the tribal chief, often with a noble class of warriors. The Celts practiced a polytheistic religion, with a pantheon of gods such as Lugh, Brigid, and The Dagda. Druids, a religious elite, were important in Celtic society for their roles as priests and jurists.

Language

The Celtic languages form a branch of the larger Indo-European family. By the time speakers of Celtic languages entered history around 400 BC, they were already split into several language groups, and spread over much of Western continental Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Ireland and Britain.

Legacy

The legacy of the Celts persists in the modern Celtic nations and regions of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, the Isle of Man, and Brittany, where Celtic languages are still spoken.

See also

• Celtic mythology
• Celtic art
• Celtic music
• Celtic nations
• Celtic languages