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The Celts: A History
The history and lasting influence of the Celts, from their origins in eastern Europe through the upheaval of the early middle ages to "twilight" and decline in the west.
The Celts were one of the most important population groups to spread across the ancient European continent. From 800BC to 1050AD their story is one of expanding power and influence followed by contraction and near extinction.
Drawing on all possible sources of evidence, from archaeological remains of ancient Greece and Rome to surviving cultural influences, Daithi O hOgain outlines the history of the people known as Celts. He follows the evolution oftheir culture as it gained strength on its two-thousand-year passage through Europe.
The influence of the Celts is far more widespread than its fragmented survival in the outer fringes of western Europe indicates; this onceimportant culture is still a vital component of European civilisation and heritage, from east to west. In tracing the course of the history of the Celts, O hOgain shows how far-reaching their influence has been.
Dáithí OhOgáin is Associate Professor of Irish Folklore at University College Dublin. A recognised authority on Celtic folklore and history, he has lectured widely and contributed to many radio and TV programmes on Irish literature and cultural history. He is the author of The Sacred Pre-Christian Religion in Ireland.
The Celts were one of the most important population groups to spread across the ancient European continent. From 800BC to 1050AD their story is one of expanding power and influence followed by contraction and near extinction.
Drawing on all possible sources of evidence, from archaeological remains of ancient Greece and Rome to surviving cultural influences, Daithi O hOgain outlines the history of the people known as Celts. He follows the evolution oftheir culture as it gained strength on its two-thousand-year passage through Europe.
The influence of the Celts is far more widespread than its fragmented survival in the outer fringes of western Europe indicates; this onceimportant culture is still a vital component of European civilisation and heritage, from east to west. In tracing the course of the history of the Celts, O hOgain shows how far-reaching their influence has been.
Dáithí OhOgáin is Associate Professor of Irish Folklore at University College Dublin. A recognised authority on Celtic folklore and history, he has lectured widely and contributed to many radio and TV programmes on Irish literature and cultural history. He is the author of The Sacred Pre-Christian Religion in Ireland.
297 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Dáithí Ó hÓgáin
36 books29 followersHe was the son of Davy Hogan, a former jockey, and his wife Mary (née Tyrell); both his parents were from Kilkenny. His great grand-uncle was the celebrated historian of Ossory, Canon William Carrigan.
Irish was spoken in the family home, and at De La Salle national school, Bruff, he got a good grounding in Irish grammar. His grasp of the language was further improved by visits to the Kerry Gaeltacht.
He was awarded a county council scholarship and continued his education at the CBS Limerick. A second scholarship in 1967 brought him to UCD, where he studied Irish, English, philosophy and history. He graduated in 1970 and secured an MA in 1971.
He then joined RTÉ and worked as a journalist for 18 months. From there he moved to the Irish folklore archive at UCD, taking up a position as a researcher under the directorship of Prof Bo Almqvist.
In 1976 he completed his doctorate, and his thesis formed the basis for An File .
A former member of the Sinn Féin ardchomhairle, in the 1970s he was involved in policymaking and was associated with the development of the federal Éire Nua programme.
Later he threw his energy into participating in various initiatives centred on Irish cultural heritage and the organisation of folk schools and summer schools on a regional basis.
A constant collector of folklore in Irish and English, he procured some very valuable traditional Irish manuscripts for the folklore archive.
He was rapporteur-general at the Unesco conference in Paris in 1987, at which that organisation’s policy on the preservation of world folklore heritage was decided.
In 1989 he was a founding member of the European Centre for Traditional Cultures in Budapest, later travelling to conferences across Europe and further afield.
He also was, in the early 1990s, a founder of Craobh na hÉigse, an organisation dedicated to infusing new interest into the writing and reading of Irish language material. And he was a founder of the Irish National Folk Company, which liaised with many youth festivals in Europe.
He wrote seven collections of poetry, six in Irish and one in English. He also wrote three collections of short stories as well as a series of books on Irish surnames.
He was a stalwart of Cumann Merriman. He lived with his wife and family in Bray, Co Wicklow, and contributed to a history of the town published in 1998.
He regularly contributed to radio and television programmes. Most recently he appeared on a TG4 documentary on the origins of the ballad Molly Malone . His research showed that what has become the Dublin GAA supporters’ anthem was written by a Scotsman in the 1880s as a send-up of the Irish taste for lamentation.
He is survived by his wife Caitríona, daughters Aisling, Orla, Niamh and Sadhbh and son Ruán.
Irish was spoken in the family home, and at De La Salle national school, Bruff, he got a good grounding in Irish grammar. His grasp of the language was further improved by visits to the Kerry Gaeltacht.
He was awarded a county council scholarship and continued his education at the CBS Limerick. A second scholarship in 1967 brought him to UCD, where he studied Irish, English, philosophy and history. He graduated in 1970 and secured an MA in 1971.
He then joined RTÉ and worked as a journalist for 18 months. From there he moved to the Irish folklore archive at UCD, taking up a position as a researcher under the directorship of Prof Bo Almqvist.
In 1976 he completed his doctorate, and his thesis formed the basis for An File .
A former member of the Sinn Féin ardchomhairle, in the 1970s he was involved in policymaking and was associated with the development of the federal Éire Nua programme.
Later he threw his energy into participating in various initiatives centred on Irish cultural heritage and the organisation of folk schools and summer schools on a regional basis.
A constant collector of folklore in Irish and English, he procured some very valuable traditional Irish manuscripts for the folklore archive.
He was rapporteur-general at the Unesco conference in Paris in 1987, at which that organisation’s policy on the preservation of world folklore heritage was decided.
In 1989 he was a founding member of the European Centre for Traditional Cultures in Budapest, later travelling to conferences across Europe and further afield.
He also was, in the early 1990s, a founder of Craobh na hÉigse, an organisation dedicated to infusing new interest into the writing and reading of Irish language material. And he was a founder of the Irish National Folk Company, which liaised with many youth festivals in Europe.
He wrote seven collections of poetry, six in Irish and one in English. He also wrote three collections of short stories as well as a series of books on Irish surnames.
He was a stalwart of Cumann Merriman. He lived with his wife and family in Bray, Co Wicklow, and contributed to a history of the town published in 1998.
He regularly contributed to radio and television programmes. Most recently he appeared on a TG4 documentary on the origins of the ballad Molly Malone . His research showed that what has become the Dublin GAA supporters’ anthem was written by a Scotsman in the 1880s as a send-up of the Irish taste for lamentation.
He is survived by his wife Caitríona, daughters Aisling, Orla, Niamh and Sadhbh and son Ruán.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 28, 2020
A bit of a "hit-and-miss", this introductory overview of the history of the Celts provide a broad study of the development and decadence of the Celtic culture, mostly focused on the period starting from the massive expansion in Europe in the 6th and 5th centuries BC and ending with its retreat, in the first centuries AD, under the pressure of Germanic, Dacian and Roman areas of control and influence.
While it does provide many points of historical interest (like the development of the short-lived Thracian Celtic Kingdom, the intriguing and peculiar development of the Galatian polities in Asia Minor, the expansion of the "Celtiberian" groups of Celts and Celticized peoples inhabiting the central-eastern Iberian Peninsula during the final centuries BC, and the non-insignificant role played by Celtic mercenary troops in the Punic Wars and in other wars of Antiquity), this book does present some methodological issues such as:
- the over-reliance on just a couple of sources (Titus Livius, and Gaius Iulius Caesar's "De Bello Gallico", with only a few passing references to Polybius), which are mostly accepted with little critical analysis of their veracity and accuracy. Sometimes, while reading the section on the Gallic Wars, it does seem like reading Caesar, almost verbatim: I did not mind this too much (it felt, in a couple of instances, like walking down memory lane, as in high school I had to read and translate from the original Latin many parts of the "De Bello Gallico"), but I think it is reasonable to expect also some critical analysis of such primary sources, not just a transcription
- the utilization of the available primary sources is a bit unbalanced: there is too much focus on the literary sources, at the expense of a more detailed analysis of the archaeological sources; and, as highlighted above, there is insufficient cross-referencing and critical analysis. There are some points of study where, contrarily to what might appear by reading this book, there is no definite consensus within the historians' community: for example, the actual date of the foundation of Mediolanum (current city of "Milano"), is reported by the author as around 400 BC (carried out by the Insubres, a Gaulish population that lived on the north side of the River Po); but other authors (following Livy) report the actual foundation date as close to 600 BC. In this particular case I would tend to agree with the author, but a reference to different interpretations would have definitely been helpful
- there is also too much focus on the detailed chronological developments of the various battles and of specific events and tidbits, at the expense of a more comprehensive analysis of the underlying social, cultural, religious and economic developments associated with the expansion and demise of the Celtic cultural and political influence in Europe
- there are a few minor inaccuracies: for example, the current name of the city of Agrigentum is "Agrigento" not "Girgenti" (the latter being just the local Sicilian dialect version of it!). I also do not like the anachronism of the term "Roman empire" while describing events involving the Roman Republic. Yes, it might have well been used by the author as a figure of speech, but still is something that does not sit very well with me.
- there is a clear pro-Celtic and anti-Roman bias when dealing with the process of Romanization of Gaul, which comes at the expense of historical balance and accuracy. Just by reading this book, the unwary reader might be misled into thinking that this Roman province was subject throughout the centuries by oppressive taxation, an unsustainable weight that generated recurrent riots and rebellions. The history of Gaul is represented by the author mainly as an almost continuous succession of such uprisings, while the reality is quite more subtle and nuanced. Yes, the initial campaign of conquest by Caesar was absolutely brutal, almost genocidal, as everybody knows. BUT, without entering into a full digression about the great economic and cultural development of significant parts of Gaul into a peaceful, loyal and relatively wealthy region of the Empire, I would like to counter such monolithic perspective by referring, just as an example, to the Claudian "Lyon Tablet" (the inscribed speech presented before the Roman Senate in 48 AD, where he proposed that the upper classes from further Gaul be allowed to enter the Senatorial class. In here, the Emperor also pointed to the Sabine origins of his own family (the gens Claudia), and to the recent promotion to senatorial rank of men from Gallia Narbonensis). The strength of the Roman Empire was also based on its legions, true, but its unique success in history is due, to a significant extent, to its inclusive, religiously tolerant and multi-ethnic nature.
Talking in more general terms: to the famous speech reported by the author, speech that the Caledonian chieftain gave in advance of the Battle of Mons Graupius (the one that goes like: "To robbery, slaughter, plunder, the Romans give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace"), I can reply with many sources that clearly highlight the level of integration, peace, economic development and wealth provided by the Empire. The author is only looking at one face of Ianus Bifrons - an unbalanced, rigorous work should look at both faces.
- the maps are too few and of average detail and quality, and there is no timeline
Overall, it is an interesting book, but probably not the best available nor the most thorough or comprehensive treatment of this subject. It is an "OK" introductory book, possibly to be used as a first stepping stone into further more rigorous study of the subject; but to me, in full honesty, this book has clearly been less than an overwhelming reading experience. A pity, as it does have some good elements and points of interest, and some sections are well-researched, and because of that it does seem to me like a bit of a missed opportunity.
2 stars.
While it does provide many points of historical interest (like the development of the short-lived Thracian Celtic Kingdom, the intriguing and peculiar development of the Galatian polities in Asia Minor, the expansion of the "Celtiberian" groups of Celts and Celticized peoples inhabiting the central-eastern Iberian Peninsula during the final centuries BC, and the non-insignificant role played by Celtic mercenary troops in the Punic Wars and in other wars of Antiquity), this book does present some methodological issues such as:
- the over-reliance on just a couple of sources (Titus Livius, and Gaius Iulius Caesar's "De Bello Gallico", with only a few passing references to Polybius), which are mostly accepted with little critical analysis of their veracity and accuracy. Sometimes, while reading the section on the Gallic Wars, it does seem like reading Caesar, almost verbatim: I did not mind this too much (it felt, in a couple of instances, like walking down memory lane, as in high school I had to read and translate from the original Latin many parts of the "De Bello Gallico"), but I think it is reasonable to expect also some critical analysis of such primary sources, not just a transcription
- the utilization of the available primary sources is a bit unbalanced: there is too much focus on the literary sources, at the expense of a more detailed analysis of the archaeological sources; and, as highlighted above, there is insufficient cross-referencing and critical analysis. There are some points of study where, contrarily to what might appear by reading this book, there is no definite consensus within the historians' community: for example, the actual date of the foundation of Mediolanum (current city of "Milano"), is reported by the author as around 400 BC (carried out by the Insubres, a Gaulish population that lived on the north side of the River Po); but other authors (following Livy) report the actual foundation date as close to 600 BC. In this particular case I would tend to agree with the author, but a reference to different interpretations would have definitely been helpful
- there is also too much focus on the detailed chronological developments of the various battles and of specific events and tidbits, at the expense of a more comprehensive analysis of the underlying social, cultural, religious and economic developments associated with the expansion and demise of the Celtic cultural and political influence in Europe
- there are a few minor inaccuracies: for example, the current name of the city of Agrigentum is "Agrigento" not "Girgenti" (the latter being just the local Sicilian dialect version of it!). I also do not like the anachronism of the term "Roman empire" while describing events involving the Roman Republic. Yes, it might have well been used by the author as a figure of speech, but still is something that does not sit very well with me.
- there is a clear pro-Celtic and anti-Roman bias when dealing with the process of Romanization of Gaul, which comes at the expense of historical balance and accuracy. Just by reading this book, the unwary reader might be misled into thinking that this Roman province was subject throughout the centuries by oppressive taxation, an unsustainable weight that generated recurrent riots and rebellions. The history of Gaul is represented by the author mainly as an almost continuous succession of such uprisings, while the reality is quite more subtle and nuanced. Yes, the initial campaign of conquest by Caesar was absolutely brutal, almost genocidal, as everybody knows. BUT, without entering into a full digression about the great economic and cultural development of significant parts of Gaul into a peaceful, loyal and relatively wealthy region of the Empire, I would like to counter such monolithic perspective by referring, just as an example, to the Claudian "Lyon Tablet" (the inscribed speech presented before the Roman Senate in 48 AD, where he proposed that the upper classes from further Gaul be allowed to enter the Senatorial class. In here, the Emperor also pointed to the Sabine origins of his own family (the gens Claudia), and to the recent promotion to senatorial rank of men from Gallia Narbonensis). The strength of the Roman Empire was also based on its legions, true, but its unique success in history is due, to a significant extent, to its inclusive, religiously tolerant and multi-ethnic nature.
Talking in more general terms: to the famous speech reported by the author, speech that the Caledonian chieftain gave in advance of the Battle of Mons Graupius (the one that goes like: "To robbery, slaughter, plunder, the Romans give the lying name of empire; they make a solitude and call it peace"), I can reply with many sources that clearly highlight the level of integration, peace, economic development and wealth provided by the Empire. The author is only looking at one face of Ianus Bifrons - an unbalanced, rigorous work should look at both faces.
- the maps are too few and of average detail and quality, and there is no timeline
Overall, it is an interesting book, but probably not the best available nor the most thorough or comprehensive treatment of this subject. It is an "OK" introductory book, possibly to be used as a first stepping stone into further more rigorous study of the subject; but to me, in full honesty, this book has clearly been less than an overwhelming reading experience. A pity, as it does have some good elements and points of interest, and some sections are well-researched, and because of that it does seem to me like a bit of a missed opportunity.
2 stars.
February 12, 2023
Це не має бути перша книга, яку ви читатимете саме по історії кельтських племен. Якщо ви орієнтуєтесь у культурі, то це теж навряд допоможе, хоча книга вводить нас у оповідь саме посередництвом культури. Далі починається шалений калейдоскоп імен, племен, рухів по карті (переселення, торгівля, бої, король-зять-брат-товариш у боях). Докиньте сюди не кельтські племена, зміну назв племен після їхнього розселення або після того, як їх відвідали якісь історики, римських імператорів, полководців і їхні "рухи" по карті, не завжди хронологічний виклад, коли автор розповідає про подію, тоді забігає уперед, тоді може згадати якогось діяча, що брав участь у події, але згадує у контексті більш давніх подій. Це все НЕ супроводжується мапами племен чи їх переміщень. Додамо ще сюди любов перекладача транслітерувати власні назви, коли на виході маємо Улаїдг замість Уладу (я погуглила - в ульстерському, коннахтському і мунстерському діалектах навіть [д] не вимовляється, але визнаймо, що це відома назва в українській).
В результаті подекуди книга схожа на довідниковий виклад матеріалу. Було приємно, коли мова заходила про географічні точки, про які я хоч щось вже чула чи знаю, бо тоді інформація з книги або ставала додатковим пазлом, або ще раз нагадувала про якусь історію. І можливо, вірогідно, якщо дуже круто знати історію кельтів материкової та острівної Європи, вам буде з цією книгою комфортно) Можливо, саме така була оригінальна задумка. І це ок. Але тоді спершу треба проробити досить вагому роботу з вивчення історії усіх кельтських племен.
З позитивного: тішать цитати істориків, коли вони описують побут чи подію; тішать деталі про побут чи методи ведення війни; є хороші фото всередині книги; це дійсно може бути хорошим додатковим матеріалом, коли ви досліджуєте або всю історію кельтів, або якусь конкретну кельтську територію.
В результаті подекуди книга схожа на довідниковий виклад матеріалу. Було приємно, коли мова заходила про географічні точки, про які я хоч щось вже чула чи знаю, бо тоді інформація з книги або ставала додатковим пазлом, або ще раз нагадувала про якусь історію. І можливо, вірогідно, якщо дуже круто знати історію кельтів материкової та острівної Європи, вам буде з цією книгою комфортно) Можливо, саме така була оригінальна задумка. І це ок. Але тоді спершу треба проробити досить вагому роботу з вивчення історії усіх кельтських племен.
З позитивного: тішать цитати істориків, коли вони описують побут чи подію; тішать деталі про побут чи методи ведення війни; є хороші фото всередині книги; це дійсно може бути хорошим додатковим матеріалом, коли ви досліджуєте або всю історію кельтів, або якусь конкретну кельтську територію.
April 18, 2011
I think it important to see 'The Celts', published 2002, as a comprehensive introduction to this history.
It has a very broad sweep, from the stone age to the end of the first millennia a.d. It also covers the extensive geography of these peoples, from western Europe to the Middle East. To be expected with any work that encompasses such a vast amount of information in just under 250 pages, Daithi OhOgain's history should be viewed as a superb source of reference and platform for those interested in further study. The author utilises archaeological discovery as well as extensive souces from the classical to the modern. At times it reads like Livy's 'History of Rome' in documenting the internecine struggles and movements of tribal groups facing internal and external threats across hundreds of years. For me, OhOgain's mastery of the Celtic languages, utilised to explain tribal and personal identity, deism, and placenames is all very interesting. In the end, this is a sad story of a slow but inexorable demise of a rich culture that is subjugated and lost by Latin and Germanic forces, which today hangs on in Europe through the Cornish, Welsh and Gaelic tongues.
It has a very broad sweep, from the stone age to the end of the first millennia a.d. It also covers the extensive geography of these peoples, from western Europe to the Middle East. To be expected with any work that encompasses such a vast amount of information in just under 250 pages, Daithi OhOgain's history should be viewed as a superb source of reference and platform for those interested in further study. The author utilises archaeological discovery as well as extensive souces from the classical to the modern. At times it reads like Livy's 'History of Rome' in documenting the internecine struggles and movements of tribal groups facing internal and external threats across hundreds of years. For me, OhOgain's mastery of the Celtic languages, utilised to explain tribal and personal identity, deism, and placenames is all very interesting. In the end, this is a sad story of a slow but inexorable demise of a rich culture that is subjugated and lost by Latin and Germanic forces, which today hangs on in Europe through the Cornish, Welsh and Gaelic tongues.
October 11, 2015
Dzieje wojen prowadzonych przez Celtów. Zabrakło pozostałej otoczki (kultura, religia, system społeczny, itp.)
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July 28, 2022Nie miałem pojęcia za co się zabieram. Historia Celtów to w zasadzie historia całej Europy. Od wysp brytyjskich po Grecję, od Hiszpani po tereny należące teraz do Polski. W zasadzie Celtowie byli chyba wszędzie. Wprawdzie zostali pokonani, ale pozostawili swoje słowa np. w Łacinie oraz swoje wynalazki np. miecze.
July 30, 2011
3.5 really. Please read my full review at Celtic Scholar.
April 22, 2017
Академічна монографія. Детально описує історію кельтів та їхню боротьбу за місце під сонцем. Доволі мало тексту виділено стосовно культури, релігії та побуту кельтів. Загалом - це історія "великого руху" та занепаду кельтських осередків.
Як академічній літературі - оцінка 5/5.
Як літературі для відпочинку - 4/5.
Як академічній літературі - оцінка 5/5.
Як літературі для відпочинку - 4/5.
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