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The Celts of central Europe of this period are protohistoric: Aside from a few inscriptions, they did not fully develop a writing system, but modern historians have relied on accounts of them left by their neighbors, notably the Greeks and Romans.

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Today, the word “Celtic” represents many things: a style of modern jewelry; a typeface; and an epithet of national pride among people of Scottish, Welsh, and Irish descent. In historical terms, however, “Celtic” is harder to define, in part because the Celts lived across such a wide area, inhabiting lands from Ireland to Turkey.

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n the Iron Age, the people of Britain lived in tribes. Today these people are often called 'Celts'.

The Celts controlled most of central Europe and by 700BC they also conquered the lands of Northern Spain. The Celts were a force in Britain by 480BC. Celtic tribes continued to migrate to Britain and to dominate the country.

Use our interactive map of Celtic Lands and the Roman Empire to find out more about events that shaped their history. On the map you will see how their lands expanded but how they eventually were overtaken by the Romans. The map has features to read about their history on the timeline and to see where their key settlements and trade routes were.

Or use the resources below to find out more about the culture and social history of the Celts and the Romans.

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The relationship between the Romans and Celts was not always unfriendly. The Romans' way of life was very different from that of the Celts and many of the Celts started to copy the Romans, speaking their language and living like them. The Celts started using Latin words and within a few generations the Celtic and Roman ways of life became mixed.