The Bretons (The Peoples of Europe) [Paperback]

Patrick Galliou (Author), Michael Jones (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 063120105X | ISBN-13: 978-0631201052 | Publication Date: June 10, 1996 | Edition: aFirst Edition First Printing

This book draws upon a wide range of archaeological and literary material to provide a history of one of the most distinctive and individualistic regions of France and its people, from prehistoric times to the present. Focusing upon such themes as trade, settlement, agriclture, transport, population, religion, art and languages, the authors explore the characteristics of a society which has combined peoples from two different linguistic and cultural traditions in a long-enduring political union.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent. An ideal and thoroughly readable introduction." History

"It is extremely useful to have a survey of Breton history and archaeology available in English; it is well illustrated, with 40 well-chosen plates and 26 figures, and there is a valuable bibliography. Will be of considerable assistance to university teachers of medieval history." French History

"A very readable - and at times - fascinating account of one of the most individualistic regions of France." Modern and Contemporary France

From the Back Cover

This book draws upon a wide range of archaeological and literary material to provide a history of one of the most distinctive and individualistic regions of France and its people, from prehistoric times to the present. Focusing upon such themes as trade, settlement, agriculture, transport, population, religion, art and languages, the authors explore the characteristics of a society which has combined peoples from two different linguistic and cultural traditions in a long-enduring political union.

In the book's opening chapter, Patrick Galliou reconstructs early Armorica (the Gaulish name for Brittany) where as early as 5000 BC, under gradually changing physical conditions, human communities appeared in the peninsula and a highly idiosyncratic culture evolved. Dr Galliou traces the development of this culture through the later Neolithic, and the Bronze Age, to Roman and post-Roman Brittany. Beginning with the Frankish period, Michael Jones traces Breton history in the Middle Ages. He describes the rise and fall of the Kingdom of Brittany; the Plantagenets; the civil war (1341-65), and the medieval Breton state under the Montfort Dukes. He concludes with an overview of Brittany's history from the end of the Middle Ages to the present day.

Extensively illustrated with half-tones, maps and diagrams, the book will be of wide interest to archaeologists, historians and anthropologists, as well as to the general reader.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; aFirst Edition First Printing edition (June 10, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 063120105X
• ISBN-13: 978-0631201052
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,399,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to tell a line anymore from the Celts to the Romans., May 5, 2007

By 

Douglas E. Libert "howitt" (parkersburg wv) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bretons (The Peoples of Europe) (Paperback)

The French province of Brittany was called Armorica by the Celts and this meant roughly the "land near the waters and the area offered alot of harbors for trade and commerce from prehistoric days to the present.this book has a great section about the hundred years war between France and England.I had previously saw this struggle only in regard to the 2 powers but after this read i see how all the little dukedoms on the continent played England and France against each other.The reason for it was to maintain their provincial independence.A large part of the book is devoted to the Montfort family and their squeeze on Brittany"s sovereignty.The Breton Monforts were finally nuetralized by the rising power of the French and their much deeper pockets.The first part of the book is devoted to the neolithic and it progresses to the periond of Ages(Bronze and Iron)showing this Celtic area of today's coastal France as a warrior/farmer type culture in this period.The big change comes with the advent of the Roman Empire.The Roman Empire according to my read,takes over so much of Europe that alot of these unique Celtic cultures are pretty much gobbled up.The Romans use politics,economics,and civilzed convenience so well that alot of these tribes don't even care for or remember their former existence.But there is another reason for the Roman takeover of these areas often overlooked but given space in this book. That is the Celtic religious and ascetic view of the world,closely parralleled the Roman,likewise the Romans and the Celts absorbed the new "Christian movement" and made it theirs and not necessarily the other way around.The Bretons are also shown as a somewhat litiguous people,only too willing to defend even the slightest offenses so Roman law would have been a useful tool to be used and (abused)?So the question arises ,Whom takes over whom? No answer ever for that one although the technologically superior usually wins. According to this book,Roman military might although important is only used as a last resort in subjecting the Celtic tribes. Apparently the Bretons had a thriving economy based on the manufacture of "fishpaste" during a period of this era.the author points out also the commerce and immigration and emigration between this current area of France and England,the Bretons were not "stay at home" agriculturalists but made the big bids for wealth and power sometimes winning,sometimes losing,but always and still right there on the stage.This book has alot of info on Medieval Britanny,including Black Death statistics and this type middle age goodies.