The Celtic World

Travel through time from 500 B.C. to today and rediscover the Celts with a Harvard-educated professor.Following the surge of interest and pride in Celtic identity since the 19th century, much of what we thought we knew about the Celts has been radically transformed. From the warriors who nearly defeated Julius Caesar to druids who, contrary to popular opinion, definitely did not worship at Stonehenge, get to know the real Celts.In The Celtic World, discover the incredible story of the Celtic-speaking peoples, whose art, language, and culture once spread from Ireland to Austria. This series of 24 enlightening lectures explains the traditional historical view of who the Celts were, then contrasts it with brand-new evidence from DNA analysis and archeology that totally changes our perspective on where the Celts came from. European history and culture have been profoundly affected by the Celts, from the myth of King Arthur to the very map of the United Kingdom, where the English confronted the peoples of the "Celtic Fringe."With a wealth of historical expertise, Professor Jennifer Paxton (PhD Harvard University), Director of the University Honors Program and Clinical Assistant Professor of History at The Catholic University of America, guides you through each topic related to Celtic history with approachability and ease as you unearth what we once thought it meant - and what it may actually mean - to be Celtic. Professor Paxton's engaging, often humorous delivery blends perfectly with the facts about the Celts to uncover surprising historical revelations. The ancient Celts are very much alive in the literary and artistic traditions that their descendants have both preserved and very deliberately revived. All facets of Celtic life, past and present, are addressed by Professor Paxton, who demonstrates a masterful knowledge and carefully separates fact from myth at every turn. Come along for a ride through history to discover your inner Celt. Biography Table of Contents Scope Lecture 1 ● Who Are the Celts? Lecture 2 ● The Celts and the Classical World Lecture 3 ● Celtic Art and Artifacts Lecture 4 ● Celtic Languages in the Ancient World Lecture 5 ● Caesar and the Gauls Lecture 6 ● Celtic Religion and the Druids Lecture 7 ● Celtic Britain and Roman Britain Lecture 8 ● Celts and the Picts in Scotland Lecture 9 ● Prehistoric Ireland and the Celts Lecture 10 ● Celtic Britain after Rome Lecture 11 ● Brittany and Galicia: Fringe of the Fringe Lecture 12 ● Celtic Churches Lecture 13 ● Celtic Art and Insular Art Lecture 14 ● Medieval Irish Literature Lecture 15 ● Celtic Women, Families, and Social Structure Lecture 16 ● The Irish Sea World: Celts and Vikings Lecture 17 ● English Invasions of Wales and Ireland Lecture 18 ● Scotland from Macbeth to Braveheart Lecture 19 ● Politics and Literature in Wales Lecture 20 ● The Tudor Conquest of Ireland Lecture 21 ● (Re)Discovering the Celts Lecture 22 ● The Gaelic Revival in Ireland Lecture 23 ● Celtic Music and Dance Lecture 24 ● The Celts Today Bibliography Image Credits