romans & the celts · the celts wore trousers. they were good weavers and made good cloth. but...
TRANSCRIPT
Learning Objective
Celts• Before the Romans invaded Britain the Celtic tribes inhabited
the island. The land was divided up into areas (a bit like it is divided into counties now) each of which was run by a different tribe. The tribes were very territorial and believed that war was a necessary part of life. This meant that there was lots of fighting between neighbouring tribes.
• The country was well into the ‘Iron Age’ and so metal was like money. People had learnt how to craft weapons and metal objects and these were used to trade. They traded across the English Channel with Gaul (France) and were known to be very advanced in their production of metal and metal crafts. Cornwall’s tin mines were renowned and the craftsmanship all over the British Isles is still considered impressive today. It was not the case that the Celts were uncivilised or backwards as is often claimed!
• People lived off arable (farm) land on which they grew crops, such as wheat, and which they used to raise animals. They led a simple life apart from the frequent battles between tribes.
Homes
Roundhouse
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/factfile/homes.shtml
• (See pics of A Celtic Roundhouses in file)
• http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/ironage/celtic-lifestyles
• Clothing
• http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/ironage/clothes-and-appearance
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/factfile/clothes.shtml
• Work/Tools
• http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/celts/shields.html
• http://www.localhistories.org/work.html
Celtic Warriors
• Training/Weapons
Celtic warriors went into battle with a sword and a shield. The most important warriors had the biggest and best swords. Most of the time they were farmers but during the times of the year when the farms were less busy they would practice using their swords and shields.
They wanted to make themselves look scary so they spent quite a lot of time putting on their scary make-up. They used the dye from the woad plant to paint blue patterns on their face and all over their body. Then they used lime to dye their hair white and make it spiky.
The Celts wore trousers. They were good weavers and made good cloth. But in battle they often took all their clothes off. Why did they do this? Maybe it was to show that they were not scared and they thought armour was just for softies? Maybe it was to make them look really mad? Maybe they really were a bit barmy!front doors.
The most important Celtic warriors had chariots. These were small carts pulled along by horses. They went much faster than people could run. Sometimes three people would ride on the chariot. Two would carry spears. They would ride up to the enemy sideways, quickly throw their spears and then run off. Sometimes two soldiers would run alongside the chariots to defend them.
Sometimes Celts liked to drink some beer before they went into battle to make them even more mad and frightening.When Celts beat an enemy they liked to keep their heads as souvenirs and carry them around with them to show off. They soaked them in cedar oil to stop them going rotten. Sometimes they hung them over their front doors.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/factfile/art.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/factfile/warriors.shtml
http://www.military-history.org/articles/celtic-warrior-profile.htm
http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/ironage/celtic-warriors
• God & Beliefs
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/celts/factfile/religion.shtml
• http://history.parkfieldict.co.uk/ironage/religion-and-beliefs
Useful Websites
• http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Celts-6175684/
• http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Sky-Atlantic-and-39-s-The-British-Roman-Invasion-6297530/
• http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/view/NCC090857
• http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/history/history5.htm
Roman Invasion of Britain
• In 55BC The Roman general Julius Caesar tried to invade Britain. He had already successfully invaded Gaul (France) and knew it would impress Rome if he continued to invade more and more lands. He also wanted to invade Britain because the people there had tried to help Gaul fight against the Romans and he was not too happy about that. He knew that Britain contained much wealth and that if he could be the first to invade he could get his hands on lots of it.
• His first attempt in 55BC and his second attempt in 54BC were both successful in that he did beat the Celtic tribes that were waiting for him on the shore. But he was unable to stay long, as his boats were destroyed in storms both times. It looks like the typical English weather saved the Brits! Julius Caesar ended up returning back home without having taken Britain.
Roman Invasion of Britain
• The Romans waited another 90 years before they tried again. This time the invasion was led by Emperor Claudius in 43ce. He sent 40000 troops who sailed across from France and gradually worked their way up the country conquering as they went. The troops did take some persuasion to go, as they had heard of the terrible Celtic tribes that lived there and of how vicious they were. Stories such as how the Celts cut off the heads of their enemies and kept them as souvenirs put them off (unsurprisingly). Emperor Claudius even brought elephants over to Britain to scare the tribes - who would have never seen such an incredible animal before.
• Once Claudius and his men had reached the midlands, Britain fell under the rule of Rome (like most of mainland Europe) and this lasted for 400 years!
Homes
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_houses.htm
http://www.brims.co.uk/romans/towns.html
http://www.primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/houses/roman.htm
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/roman_houses.htm
• Clothing
• http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/clothing.htm
• http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/romansmain.htm
• Work/Tools
• http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_rome_food_daily_life.php
• http://www.stormeducational.co.uk/romans/everyday_life/work.htm
• http://www.roman-colosseum.info/roman-life/ancient-roman-jobs.htm
Roman Army
Training/Weapons
• http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/roman_army.htm
• http://www.ducksters.com/history/ancient_rome_army_legions.php
Fun Facts about the Roman Army
Officers, such as centurions, wore large crests on their helmets. This allowed the soldiers to see them better in battle.
The average legionary carried at least 90 pounds of weight and often had to march 20 miles a day. At its largest, the Roman army was made up of 30 legions, or over 150,000 soldiers. Counting the auxiliary soldiers, some estimate there were well over 1 million soldiers in the Roman army.
Gaius Marius, Roman consul and general, is largely credited with transforming the Roman army into the powerful group that conquered much of the civilized world. The Romans used catapults to throw huge rocks which could knock down walls. They also used large crossbows called ballistas to fire arrows that were more the size of spears.
• God & Beliefs
• http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/religion.htm
The start of the Romans in Britain
The Romans
came to Britain
looking for riches
– land, slaves
and most of all
iron, lead, zinc,
copper, silver
and gold.
Julius Caesar attempted
to invade Britain in 55BC
and then again in 54BC.
Both times the British
warriors and rotten
weather made him and
his army go back to
France.
The Romans took over
Celts land and built
towns and roads.
Useful Websites
• http://www.primaryresources.co.uk/history/histor
y5.htm
• http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/roman_
army.htm