{"product_id":"the-ancient-celts-9780198150107","title":"The Ancient Celts","description":"\u003cp\u003eFierce warriors and skilled craftsmen  the Celts were famous throughout the ancient Mediterranean world  the archetypal barbarians from the north  feared by both Greeks and Romans. And though this ancient thousand-year-old civilization was crushed by the military campaigns of Julius Caesar  the Celts remain an object of fascination to this day. Now  in The Ancient Celts  Barry Cunliffe  one of the worlds leading authorities on European prehistory  explores the true nature of the Celtic identity and presents the first thorough and up-to-date account of a people whose origins still provoke heated debate. Drawing on a wealth of recent archaeological findings  Cunliffe reveals how this loose band of nomads evolved from migratory barbarians into adroit traders and artists  inhabiting virtually every corner of Europe north of the Po. Beginning in the Hungarian plains of 1300 B.C.  where the first hints of Celtic culture can be traced  the book shows how this fierce people slowly grew into one of Europes most feared powers  constantly raiding and threatening the empires of both Greece and the Rome. Cunliffe demonstrates how the unprecedented Celtic diaspora gave way to the development of a number of mature  urban societies scattered throughout the continent. The book pays ample tribute to Celtic economic prowess  revealing how the civilization shrewdly took advantage of Europes tin  cooper  and gold resources to become both a respected trading partner with Rome and a nation of skilled artisans who forged some of the greatest weaponry of pre-antiquity. The book also describes the Celtss pantheistic religious traditions  with detailed accounts of weapon burials  human sacrifices  and the meditative powers of the Druids  and it concludes with a look at the influences of the Celtic mystique on the modern world  revealing how the concept of the Celt has been used many times by nations in search for an identity. From the Victorians glorification of Boudicca  to linguistic influences in Ireland and Britain  to the common bond of Celtic ancestry that virtually every European shares  this comprehensive history demystifies the world of the Celts as never before. A fascinating history blending insightful narrative with vivid detail  and boasting over 200 illustrations--including 24 color plates--and 30 maps  The Ancient Celts is an indispensable guide to this age-old  intriguing culture.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45280094388277,"sku":"ByrdShop_0198150105","price":37.58,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780198150107.jpg?v=1780620576","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-ancient-celts-9780198150107","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}