The Celtic World

"The ancient Celts, in their heyday, inhabited much of Europe north of the Alps. This new and exhaustive study examines this fascinating people from the first evidence of Celts in the archaeological and historical record to the early post Roman period. Because the ancient Celts were virtually non-literate, scholars have to rely on archaeological evidence and the comments of Classical writers, in order to build up a picture of the Celtic past. This picture is incomplete, but it shows a fascinating, warlike, artisitc people who created beautiful objects, told wonderful stories and worshipped strange and powerful divine forces. The Celtic World is one of the most comprehensive studies of the Celts in recent years, with new research material from leading Celtic scholars from Europe, Britain and America. The book includes chapters on archaeology, language, literature, warfare, rural life, towns, art, religion and myth, trade and industry, political organization, society and technology. It also looks at the Celts in Italy, Spain, France, Eastern Europe, the Rhineland, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and concludes with a survey of modern Celts and how they view their Celtic identity. The Celtic World will be invaluable for students and academics of Celtic studies, and of interest to anyone fascinated by the Celts.--Jacket.