Pre English Period in Great Britain- I (Iberians and Celts)

This post caters to the study of the Complementary Course “Evolution of Literary Movements”, assigned for students of BA English programme at CMS College.

Introduction 1: The British Isles

Introduction 2: The British Isles: Topography and Prehistoric Life

BC 3000 to AD 455: Pre English

                I a. The Iberians 

                  I b. The Celts

                II. Romans

AD 455 – 1066: Old English

AD 1066 – 1485: Middle English

AD 1485 – 1603: Modern English: The Tudor Period

AD 1603 – 1700: Modern English: The Stuart Period

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Pre English Phase

From this point of our study, we focus more on Great Britain and especially the land which was later named England. Our consideration here is about three invading groups: the Iberians, the Celts and the Romans.

The British Isles was inhabited right from the Palaeolithic era. With its proximity to the European mainland, the British Isles attracted invaders and settlers from outside, who preferred to establish themselves in the southern part of Great Britain – the place we now know as England. The invaders drove out the existing dwellers to the north (Scotland), or west (Wales and Ireland).

The Iberians:

This group of people came from Africa, through the Iberian peninsula (south west corner of Europe). They settled in the British Isles around 2000 BC, during the Metal Ages.

Popularly called “dark Iberians”, they were black haired and short statured. (Later to be identified with stories of fairies, brownies, and "little people.")

Skilled in weaving and in many crafts.

First lived in hamlets; later acquired a much higher political organisation in some parts of the country.

Trade with Egypt; knew the secrets of bronze and other metals; this helped them exploit the vast resources of copper and tin found in abundance in Britain.

Engineering skills manifested in the …

Stonehenge:

Situated 20 miles away from the Salisbury Plain

Supposed to be a temple of sun worshippers

Evidence of the religious sense of the Iberians

With the advent of the Celts, the Iberians were pushed to the less hospitable north and the marshy west. (Most of the people of Western Ireland, Wales and the Highlands of Scotland can be said to have come from the Iberian stock.)

The Celts (600 – 55 BC)

Originally from the north western areas of Germany and the Netherlands. They occupied in the habitable parts of Britain. The Iberians were subjugated and enslaved; many of them fled to the remote regions.

Three Tribes:

Gaelic or Goidelic: Occupied the land for about 3 centuries.

Brythons: from southern regions of Western Europe. Came in large numbers, in successive batches. Settled in the fertile lands of Kent. This group later came to be called Britons; the name got extended to the Celts in general; their land was then called Britain.

Belgae: the last of the Celtic invaders, they occupied the land from 100 BC.

Celts: A Profile 

(courtesy: “The Shapers of Destiny” – Dr. Susan Varghese)

The Celts who occupied such a large part of Europe in the six centuries before Christ were tall, light haired warriors, skilful in the use of iron which had replaced bronze.  They were tribesmen and clansmen who were content to remain so, subservient to the dictates of the tribal chief and submitting to the justice of the tribes. Agriculture was known and practiced by the Celts but they were more attracted to the nomadic way of life. Families and clans kept moving from place to place in search of good pasture for their animals and better hunting grounds for themselves. The Celts were familiar with metals and were skilled craftsmen in gold and metal. Wheat was grown in the south and the Celts loved the potent brew of mead which is wheat fomented with honey. A warlike race the Celts spent much of their time in brawls and battles between tribes and clans.

The most advanced regions of Celtic civilization were in the south and south eastern areas which were the best grainlands, pastures and sources of iron. Developed ports and shipping made communication easy. Traders from the Mediterranean visited the land attracted by its rich metals like tin. A clear picture of this can be obtained from what remains of the book of the Greek traveller Pytheas who circumnavigated and landed in the island around 330 BC. The last of the Celtic tribes, the Belgai, maintained cordial relations with their kinsmen in Northern Gaul. This was, perhaps, one important reason for Julius Caesar to attack Britain because he wanted to conquer not only the Celts in Gaul but also their brethren across the channel. Though there was no town life as we know it today, the largest number of Brythonic huts are located and concentrated in the developed areas of St. Albans and Colchester. The Celtic tribes of Britain even had a gold coinage of their own.

With regard to religion, the Celts firmly believed that there is divinity in all objects, that gods and goddesses haunted particular springs, caves, mountains, forests and other natural objects. These became the elves, fairies, pixies, goblins that have enthralled young and old alike. They have become their main characters in fairy tales for children. Puck and Ariel, Titania and Oberon who people some of the most famous plays of Shakespeare were no strangers to the land with its Celtic heritage. English practices like the Maypole and May Queen, the Hallowe’en Trick and Treat can be traced back to these beliefs. There was an all powerful priesthood in which all the people reposed complete faith and absolute obedience. These priests were called Druids and they were all powerful dispensers of justice looked upon with awe and fear. The most detailed account of the old Celtic religion was written by Julius Caesar who was greatly impressed by the Druids when he came to Britain to conquer the land.

Learners are advised to prepare short notes on these points. Use of external resources recommended.

Iberians:

Origins and advent to the British Isles

Religion

Stonehenge

Celts:

Personal life, administration

Association with kinsmen in the Continent – Julius Caesar

Religion (browse the internet for more information on Druids.)

Influence on literature and English practices