- Celts were divided into tribes, each led by a chief who is responsible for the tribe's military, religious, and judicial functions.
- Tribes could be further organized into clans or sept with varying levels of autonomy.
Economy
- Celts were primarily farmers and herders, growing crops such as wheat, barley and oats, and raising livestock such as cattle, pigs, and sheep.
- They also engaged in fishing and hunting.
- Celts were skilled metalworkers, producing weapons, tools, and jewelry from bronze and iron.
- They also traded with other cultures, including the Romans and Greeks.
Religion
- Celts were polytheistic, believing in a pantheon of gods and goddesses.
- Some of the more prominent Celtic deities include Lugh, the god of light, Taranis, the god of thunder, and Cernunnos, the god of the forest.
- The Celts believed in an afterlife, and some believed in reincarnation.
Language
- The Celts spoke a variety of languages known as Celtic languages.
- These languages were mostly spoken in Western Europe, including Gaul, Britain, and Ireland.
- Some Celtic languages, such as Welsh, Irish, and Scottish Gaelic, are still spoken today.
Art
- The Celts were skilled in a variety of art forms, including metalwork, stone carving, and manuscript illumination.
- Celtic art is often characterized by its intricate and symmetrical patterns, as well as its use of animal and human forms.
- Many of the finest examples of Celtic art can be found in the Book of Kells.
Decline of Celtic Culture
- Celtic culture began to decline around the 1st century AD, due to a number of factors, including the Roman conquest of Gaul and Britain, the rise of Christianity, and the migration of Germanic tribes.
- By the 6th century AD, Celtic culture had largely disappeared from most of Europe, although it continued to thrive in Ireland and Scotland.