Celts in the Iron Age

[wiseheart]

Saw a highly interesting BBC documentation about them on German TV. Who'd have thought that the Celts had built roads through swamps waaaay before the Romans did? The one found in Kenagh (Ireland) could bear heavily loaden carts.

Also, Celtic Europe seems to have been technically at least as sophisticated as the Romans were. At least. And they had a huge waterway network of trade roads down to Africa and as far south as China. A flourishing culture - until Caesar decided that the Galls needed his "protection"... after which there were 2 million dead in Gallia and finally gold coin in Rome.

Civilization... isn't it a very complex thing?

Comments

[rcfinch.livejournal.com]

We're only just beginning to rid ourselves of the Roman-coloured glasses with which much of European history has been studied for many centuries. The results are fascinating indeed!

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

I think the problem is that, apart from Roman sources, we don't have much written about those non-Roman cultures - and of course, the Roman sources are biased. So it's very hard to get an objective view of the societies the Roman conquests destroyed.

It really is the victor who writes the history books.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Re: your last sentence
I believe the Avari could tell a story or two about that.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Indeed. I wish there were more documentaries like that one, on a more regular schedule. I'm truly fascinated by that sort of stuff.