Today, the word “Celtic” may bring to mind shamrocks, red hair, or a knot-based style of artwork common to jewelry and tattoos. The Celtics (soft c) are a sports team. But who are the Celtic (hard c) peoples, and what are the origins of these associations? Celtic Studies 70 will provide an introduction to the history of the Celtic-speaking peoples from the time of the Indo-Europeans through to the present day. We will consider a variety of types of evidence for understanding who the earliest Celts were, and discuss the question of whether or not they should in fact be considered as a unified group. Written sources for the Celts begin with the Greeks and Romans, but how should these records be interpreted? Archaeological and linguistic evidence will provide useful comparison and insight. Vernacular literature from the Middle Ages will provide another dimension for understanding the Celts at a later period, and we will see why these imaginative works have endured through time, with some developing into legends and cycles such as those that surround King Arthur and others eventually playing a role in the Celtic Revival.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills