The Celts KS2 for kids - History homework help

Time: 800BC - 43AD

Who were the Celts?

The Celts were a group of people who lived during the Iron Age, a time that began around 800 BCE and lasted until the Roman invasion of Britain. They weren’t one single tribe but a collection of tribes that shared similar customs, language, and beliefs.

The Celts began in Central Europe and gradually spread across the continent. By the time the Romans arrived, Celtic tribes had settled in Britain, Ireland, France (where they were known as Gauls), and even parts of Spain. Despite being spread out, they had much in common, like their love of storytelling, their skilled craftsmanship, and their strong connection to nature.

The Iron Age

The Iron Age was an important time in history. Before this, people used bronze to make tools and weapons. When they discovered iron, everything changed! Iron was much stronger and more durable than bronze, and it helped people farm the land more easily and defend their villages more effectively.

For the Celts, the Iron Age was a time of great progress. Iron tools allowed them to plough their fields and harvest crops more efficiently. Iron weapons gave them an edge in battle. This new metal made life better in many ways, and it helped the Celts grow and thrive.

BBC - Iron Age
A fun interactive site with stories and games. View their fact file and Celtic crafts.

Castell Henllys
Step back in time at Castell Henllys, a unique Iron Age hill fort re-created with fantastic replica Iron Age roundhouses, dating back 2,400 years.

What was Celtic life like?

Life in a Celtic village was busy and full of activity. Let’s take a closer look at how the Celts lived:

Homes: The Celts lived in roundhouses, which were circular homes made from wood or stone with roofs of thatch (dried grass). Inside, there was one big room where everyone cooked, ate, and slept. A fire in the center of the room kept the house warm and provided light.
Farming and Food: The Celts were skilled farmers. They grew crops like wheat, barley, and oats to make bread and porridge. They also raised animals like cows, sheep, and pigs for meat, milk, and wool. Hunting and fishing were common, too, and they enjoyed feasts with roasted meat and fresh vegetables.
Craftsmanship: The Celts were talented craftworkers. They made tools and weapons from iron, but they also loved creating beautiful things. Using bronze, silver, and gold, they crafted jewelry, torcs (neck rings), and ornaments decorated with intricate patterns. Their art often featured spirals, knots, and animal designs.
Religion: The Celts believed the world around them was filled with spirits and gods. Rivers, rocks, and trees were sacred, and they would leave offerings to these gods. For example, they might throw a precious object, like a piece of jewellery, into a river as a gift to the spirits.

Primary Homework help
Learn everything about Celtic life including their clothes, food, housing, weapons and their religion.

The School Run
Find out who the Celts were and learn top 10 facts about them.

10 Awesome Facts
10 facts you didn't know about Celtic life. From their good roads, their weird helmets to their passion for fighting and their riches.

Facts about the Celts

The Celts didn’t write down their history. Instead, they passed their stories and knowledge through songs and telling stories.
Druids, the spiritual leaders of the Celts, were respected and powerful. They acted as teachers, judges, and advisors.
The Celts loved festivals and celebrated events like the changing seasons.
- Samhain (October 31): Marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter—it’s the ancestor of modern Halloween!
- Imbolc (February 1): Celebrated the return of spring.
- Beltane (May 1): Welcomed summer with bonfires and feasts.
- Lughnasadh (August 1): Honored the harvest and the god Lugh.
Unlike the Romans, the Celts didn’t have one big empire or a central ruler. Each tribe had its own leader, and they often fought with other tribes over land and resources.
Celtic women had more rights compared to women in many other ancient cultures. They could own land, choose their husbands, and even become warriors or leaders, like Boudica.
The Celts were excellent traders and travelled long distances to exchange goods. They traded items like salt, animal skins, and jewellery with other tribes and even with the Romans before they became enemies.
Many of the names we use today for places in the UK, Ireland, and Europe have Celtic origins. For example, the River Thames in England comes from the Celtic word Tamesas, meaning "dark water."

Celtic Warriors

The Celts were known for being fierce fighters. Battles were a big part of their lives, as tribes often fought with each other over land or resources. Celtic warriors were brave and strong, and they had some interesting ways of preparing for battle.

Body Paint: To look scarier to their enemies, warriors painted their bodies with blue patterns using a dye called woad. These designs made them stand out and were meant to intimidate their foes.
Hairstyles: Celtic warriors often styled their hair in dramatic ways before going to battle. They used lime to stiffen and spike their hair, making them look fierce and intimidating.
Weapons and Shields: They carried iron swords, spears, and shields decorated with intricate designs. Some warriors also used chariots pulled by horses to charge into battle.
Celebrations: After a victory, the Celts would hold great feasts. These feasts were full of food, drink, and music. Bards, who were poet-musicians, would sing songs and tell stories about the bravery of the warriors and the heroes of the tribe.

Who was Boudica?

One of the most famous Celts in history was Boudica, a queen of the Iceni tribe in Britain. Her story is one of courage and determination. Boudica’s husband, King Prasutagus, ruled the Iceni tribe peacefully alongside the Romans. But when he died, the Romans tried to take over their land and demanded heavy taxes. Queen Boudica was a strong woman and refused, and as a punishment, the Romans tied to a post and beat her in front of her people.

Angry for revenge, Boudica led an army, the Iceni tribe, to a Roman town called Colchester where she defeated the Romans. With her large strong army, she then attacked London and St.Albans and she won again. All that remained was to defeat the governor and his army and then they would be free of Roman rule.

As strong as Boudica's army was, the Romans were stronger and pushed them back. The battle was lost. Rather than be captured by the Roman army, Boudica killed herself by drinking poison. Today, she is remembered as a hero who fought for her people’s freedom.

Boudicca's attack
This is Boudicca. She lived a very long time ago. She fought against the Romans when they came to take her land.

Colchester
Regular guided tours of Colchester run throughout the year, charting the town's journey from Camulodunum - the Roman capital destroyed by Boudica - to present-day Colchester.

What happened to the Celts?

The Roman Empire grew stronger and stronger and in the end, the Romans conquered most of the land owned by the Celts. In Britain, the Romans built roads, towns, and walls, leaving their mark on the land. However, the Celtic way of life didn’t completely disappear.

In places like Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, Celtic traditions lived on. These areas kept their own languages, music, and stories inspired by the Celts. Even today, we can see the influence of Celtic art and culture in these regions.