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The civiliztion that once spread across European and survives in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany today, June 29, 2008
The Celts, a people whose culture and people-hood is evident today in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany, developed a civilization that once flourished across Europe.
In the period between 700 BC and 100 CE Celtic tribes thrived in Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and Croatia.
During that span Celtic culture traversed the English Channel and the Irish Sea and took root.
This history book delves into the Celtic culture of ancient times, examining it's rigidly structured social organization, it's religion administered by the Druids, it's eloquent tradition of heroic legends passed down from generation to generation, and it's fantastic art, before it was merged with roman and Germanic customs and traditions.
In England Celtic culture gave way to invaders: Romans, Angles, Saxons, Vikings, Normans.
Finally the author examines the Celtic legacy which survives in it's purest form in Ireland.
Even the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland, for all it's great influence on Irish life, adopted to the land and people and became a peculiarly Celtic institution (even known in clerical circles as the Celtic Church).
The last chapter includes some intriguing landmarks in Ireland of the ancient Celtic culture and legend.
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