A History of Gaul: How Ancient France was the Home of Celtic Civilization
Channel: Celtic History Decoded
Date: 2021-05-30

A History of Gaul: How Ancient France was the Home of Celtic Civilization - #CelticHistory - The Celtic tribes of Gaul dominated north-western Europe for centuries, with associated Celtic groups settling as far east as Turkey. Yet who were the Gauls, where did they come from, and how did it all end? 

Put simply, Gaul was both a geographical region and a name given to a range of Celtic tribes who inhabited this region, or who were originally from this region. These tribes and groups shared certain racial, linguistic, and cultural traits. They largely spoke the Gaulish Celtic language for instance, or a language connected to Gaulish. In their language, many of these tribes most likely referred to themselves as Celts, as Gaul was the name Rome gave to this region and its people.  

In relation to the origins of the Gauls, there is no definitive answer. They are thought to have grown out of the ancient Hallstatt culture of western and central Europe, where many proto-Celtic tribes lived. In around the 5th century BC, after increasing contact with the Greeks and the Etruscans, the Hallstatt culture began to transform into the La Tène culture. The La Tène style in art was distinct by its use of curved lines, swirls, spirals, and it was associated with the Celts for centuries. 

If we turn our attention to where Gaul was located, the simplest answer to this question is a broad range of north-western European territory centered on the majority of modern-day France. In addition to France, Gaul also encompassed Holland, Belgium, parts of northern Italy, Germany west of the Rhine, and most of Switzerland. Celtic people who had connections to Gaul also inhabited areas of modern Britain and Ireland, and parts of the Balkan region stretching all the way east to Galatia in modern-day Turkey. Although the Celts inhabited much of modern-day France, there were some notable exceptions. In 600 BC, the Greeks had established an important trading hub in southern Gaul on the Mediterranean coast, in the ancient city of Massilia, which is present-day Marseille. 

Although the historical records are limited from the perspective of the Gauls themselves, and much of what we know comes from potentially biased Roman sources, we do know various aspects of who these Celtic people were. Firstly, the Gauls were known to be fierce warriors. Strabo, the ancient Greek historian and geographer, described the whole race as being brave and madly keen on war. He added that they impetuous and easily outwitted. Recent research indicates that the gruesome depictions of the Gauls cutting off their enemies’ heads, embalming them in pine resin, and tying them around the necks of their horses as an intimidation tactic, are probably true. 

Secondly, the Gauls loved wine. As the Greek historian, Diodorus Siculus, wrote: “Many Italian merchants with their usual love of lucre look on the Gallic love of wine as their treasure trove.” 

Thirdly, the Druids held significant influence in Celtic society. Although I will address the question of who the Druids were in more detail in a future video, the Druids were a privileged class that played a religious, legal, and educational role in ancient Celtic civilization. Famously, there were known to practice animal and human sacrifice. Additionally, the Druids organized and officiated many Celtic seasonal festivals, which were usually inspired by important dates in the lunar-solar calendar. Fourthly, Gaul was home to a clan system. Initially, each clan had a council of elders and a King, with the King later replaced by an elected magistrate, whose powers were often constrained by the council. 

Sources:

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Gaul - https://www.britannica.com/place/Gaul-ancient-region-Europe

Julius Caesar - Introduction to Caesar, The Conquest of Gaul, by Jane F. Gardner (1982) (Penguin Books)

Jason Daley (12 Nov. 2018) It’s True: Ancient Gauls Embalmed the Severed Heads of Their Enemies, SMITHSONIANMAG.COM HTTPS://WWW.SMITHSONIANMAG.COM/SMART-NEWS/ITS-TRUE-ANCIENT-GAULS-EMBALMED-SEVERED-HEADS-THEIR-ENEMIES-180970762

Michelle Starr (8 Nov. 2018) Ancient Gauls Did Truly Gruesome Things to Their Enemies' Heads, Study Confirms, Science Alert https://www.sciencealert.com/ancient-gauls-did-embalm-heads-conifer-resin-over-2-000-years-ago

Teutates https://www.britannica.com/topic/Teutates 

Gaul https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaul

Parisii (Gaul) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parisii_(Gaul) 

Vercingetorix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vercingetorix 

Julius Caesar (1982) The Conquest of Gaul (London: Penguin Group).

#Caesar #Gaul #AncientHistory