Iron Age "Celts"

For assignments, see
Readings

use the wiki to discuss

Topic
Things to Ponder

1/17
Introduction, transition from Bronze to Iron Age in Europe

Who were the "Celts"? Is there such a thing? What relationship is there between the European Bronze Age and the Bronze Ages elsewhere?

1/24
Transition from Bronze to Iron Age. Looking at objects and art 

What are the salient characteristics of Urnfield, "Hallstatt C and D"? What are we to make of imports?

1/31
Aspects of Hallstatt and La Tène. Gender issues.

What can we say about localization? The nature of Hallstatt D style. The nature of early La Tène. What are the differences and similarities between male and female graves?

2/7
Major early La Tène sites. Cattle-raising/raiding, conquest, raw materials, wealth.

 Social structure, livelihood, warfare

2/14
Hallstatt to early La Tène
Map Quiz & group writing assignment info
Key to Map Quiz
DESCRIPTIVE essay Due

The early Iron Age transition, what are the salient characteristics of La Tène A?

2/21
Interpretation of funerary assemblages. Funerary rite.
The Classical sources, "Celts" in Greek and Roman eyes.
"Celts" invade Greece and Rome.

"Celtic" Women.


How do we approach mortuary analysis? What can tombs tell us?

What is the nature of our written sources? How are they to be used?

What roles did women play in "Celtic" society? How can we tell?

2/28

Warfare, arms and armor. "Celts" as mercenaries.

Synthesis: burial, gender, warfare, sources.

How did the "Celts" fight? How do we know? What role did warfare play in the "culture"?
The immediacy of warfare, and use of the weapons ...
The "warlike Celts" of literature -- why and how?

How do we put it all together?

3/1 -- 11 to 4:40
Explore UT

"The biggest open house in Texas"

3/6
"Celtic" drinking, guest-friendship, wine.
Massalia.

Social, political and other aspects of the "Celtic" feast. How does the burial context of the finds affect our interpretation?

Did the "Celts" practice the symposium? Were the "Celts" colonized?

3/13
SPRING BREAK
what a fabulous time to catch up on all the reading and really synthesize what we have learned!
3/20
Internal interactions, structures, economics.

Interpretation of art, objects, craftsmanship.

CREATIVE PAPER DUE -- final deadline


What is the social structure?  Is there just one?  "Tribe" and "State"

Who made these works, for whom, for what purpose? Questions of influence, transformation, reuse.

3/27
Economics, trade, industry

Agriculture
Coinage


What did the "Celts" live on?
What role does the "raid" play in "Celtic" society? How would we know?
The "Celtic" monetary economy - when, where, why and to what effect?

4/3
Sanctuaries, settlements, architecture
Religion
Key to Map Quiz 2


Interpretation of extant architecture. Are tumuli ritual or architectural? What is "ritual" and why? Headhunting.
Sanctuaries, beliefs, rituals -- what is the evidence?

4/10
The Continental Celts and the Roman conquest of Gaul
Guest speaker: Andrew Riggsby on Caesar and Gaul

Works-in-Progress DUE

How was the Roman conquest accomplished? How did the Romans view the "Celts"? How did the "Celts" respond to Roman conquest?
Cultural break or continuity?

4/17
Later La Tène/Romanization
The Insular Celts in pre- and early Roman times - introduction

What is "Romanization"?
Were there "Celts" in the British Isles?
What continuity was there with the continental "Celts"?
How were the islands Christianized?

4/24
"Celts" elsewhere -- "Celts" in Italy
"Celts" in the East and Galatians
Celtiberians
Guest speaker: Sarah Davies on Romans and Celtiberians

How "Celtic" were these "peripheral" peoples?
What criteria should we use to make such a determination?
What roles did these peripheries play in the history of the "Celtic" peoples?

5/1
FINAL PAPER DUE -- see Paper Guidelines
The Insular "Celts"
The Celtic Revival, review for final exam

What attracts modern populations to claim "Celts" as ancestors, and to invent new kinds of Celt? Why is "Celtic" descent so powerful a force today?

Tuesday, May 13, 2-5 PM FINAL EXAM -- practice
Essay Questions

For help with papers, see Paper Guidelines

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Last updated,Friday, 02-May-2008 17:22:18 CDT