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Celtic Cornwall
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Who were the Celts?The exact origin of the Celts is unknown. Certain historians place the Celts as far west as Spain and as far east as Czechoslovakia and Hungary. As in many early civilizations, trade was the main driving force forward. Chief goods traded were metals such as tin and copper, furs and hides, pottery, gemstones and amber. It is also thought that there may of been some trading of people, that is, slaves. The core of these early Celts was the Hallstatt Culture of Central Europe (Austria) - A Bronze Age society based around the regions salt mines. Their heyday was between the 8th and 7th Centuries BC. Archaeological finds in Britain of Hallstatt weapons indicate that their culture did in fact cross the English Channel. The weapons and horses would most likely be traded in exchange for the tin and copper found in Cornwall and West Devon. On the shores of the Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, the Greeks and Phoenicians had been trading well since the 8th Century BC. They began to spread westward along the Mediterranean, the Phoenicians choosing to colonize the southern shore from western Sicily to Tunisia, while the Greeks built their colonies along the northern shore from Sardinia to Gades - present day Cadiz. As the two civilizations expanded it was only a matter of time before the Celts and Phoenicians/Greeks encountered each other. A tin-trade route sprang up leading from Cornwall and Armorica crossing the Channel, then taking the 'three river' route along the Seine, Saône and Rhône to the Golfe du Lion. In about 600 BC the Greeks founded the port of Massilia (Marseille) near the mouth of the Rhône. Trade increased greatly between the three cultures and each achieved a great deal of power through this commerce. As Massilia grew, new Atlantic sea routes were opened up across the Bay of Biscay to ensure free flow of trade. The central European Celts now developed a more structured society. Centred on the region around Lake Neuchâtel in Switzerland, and known as the La Tène Culture, the Celts new found wealth was displayed in the quality, diversity and quantity of grave goods found at their burial sites. An Iron Age culture spanning from 450 BC to the fall of Gaul in 51 BC. Trade now included wines, fine Etruscan pottery, bronze and iron goods, iron weapons, jewellery and even some gold: Chieftains were even buried with their war chariots. At their greatest extent, around 200 BC, the culture of the Celts spread, as stated earlier from the Pyrenees east skirting northern Italy and northern Greece to present day Bulgaria. Trade routes made use of the 7 major rivers of Central Europe, namely Garonne, Rhône, Seine, Saône, Rhine, Po and the upper Danube. The use of iron weapons against less advanced tribes, ensured their supremacy. Trade routes between Egypt and Britain have been proved with the discovery of blue glass beads in Wiltshire identical to those found at Deir el-Bahari, and have been subsequently dated at about 1400 BC. The growth of Rome In about 510 BC Rome expelled the Etruscan kings and became a republic. Growth was slow for the next century or so and it didn't really speed up until after the battles of Clusium and Allia in 390 BC. The Celts (Gauls) under Brennus continued their advance and sacked Rome in 387 BC. Complete capture of the city only being avoided by the fortuitous warning given by a startled gaggle of geese. The Romans rebuilt their city, surrounding it with a city wall and from now on gradually increased their powerbase through systematic treaties or defeat of their nearest neighbours. They fought three wars against the Samnites [343-341 BC, 326-304 BC and 298-290 BC] receiving Capua and capturing the Samnite capital of Bovianum in 298 BC. The third war saw the Samnites enter into a loose coalition with the Etruscans, Celts (Gauls), Sabines, Lucanians and Umbrians. Over the next eight years the Romans defeated each of the coalition members individually and their hold on central Italy was ensured. From 285-282 BC the Romans fought with the Celts of northern Italy, conquering the Gallic Senones in 282 BC. Turning their attention south, Rome attacked Tarentum and King Pyrrhus of Epirus deafeating them over the next ten years. The Greek cities of southern Italy were either captured or now pledged their allegiance to Rome. Rome now controlled the majority of the Italian peninsula. Shortly afterwards the Romans would be at war once again. The Carthaginians (descendants of the original Phoenicians) were attacked and defeated during the Three Punic Wars [261-241 BC, 218-201BC and 149-146 BC].
Celts v. Romans After defeating the Carthaginians at the battle of Zuma (N.Africa) at the end of the Second Punic War, Rome had to turn her attentions to her northern borders once more. The Celts that had settled around the Po River Valley, rose up against them. The Celtic Boii and Insubres tribes were finally defeated in 190 BC after a 10 year campaign. The next 70 years or so proved to be a relatively quiet period before the Romans were at war once more. Between 113-101 BC the Germanic tribes of the Ambrones, Teutones, Harudes and Cimbri left their homes in present day Denmark and Northern Germany and moved south settling on Rome's northern border. These tribes defeated the Romans at the battles of Noreia (113 BC) and Arausio (105 BC). Shocked by these defeats the Roman Army was reformed under Consul Marius who in turn defeated the 'Germanics' at Aquae Sextiae (102 BC) and Vercellae (101 BC). The Roman Invasion of Britain The Celtic Tribes of Britain |
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