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The Celtic World

Travel through time from 500 B.C. to today and rediscover the Celts with a Harvard-educated professor.
The Celtic World is rated 4.6 out of 5 by 373.
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Rated 5 out of 5 by from The Celtic World Dr. Paxton’s lectures are mesmerizing. She has an amazing ability to tell the story of the Celts through history, archaeology, cultural analysis and anecdotes in an accessible and compelling way. The lectures are illustrated and enhanced by the visual elements, including photos and maps. Truly wonderful!
Date published: 2024-02-05
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Very knowledgeable lecturer I admire Dr. Paxton's considerable knowledge but felt that when she had a choice of which country to focus on, she chose Ireland. She also made what seemed to me some odd topic choices and the occasional off-key pronouncement. James II? He wasn't exiled for being incompetent. He was turfed out for marrying a Catholic and becoming Catholic himself; English was 150 years into the Reformation and couldn't abide a Catholic monarch. The lecturer then began debunking Scottish tartans (in a long segment) while completely omitting the real human misery in the Scottish Highlands following the Battle of Culloden -- the region lost half of its population. She doesn't tell us that the English aim was to stifle the culture of the region, which it very nearly did -- the British Army (and she finally mentions this) became a cultural outlet for some. I'd also add that the Highland Dress Act did not prohibit tartans, as she states -- there are lots of cites for this online including the text of the original act. Finally -- why no mention of the Enclosures in the Scottish Highlands? These produced immense suffering and resulted in stepped-up migration to America. The loss of life didn't approach that of the potato famine, but an entire (Celtic) way of life was extirpated. I realize that 24 lectures isn't enough to provide a full picture of so many countries; but I do think that some historical context should be provided before debunking begins.
Date published: 2023-07-25
Rated 2 out of 5 by from Too much emphasis on the UK This was my second purchase of lectures by Jennifer Paxton. She is well read and I appreciate her commitment to often mysterious group of peoples. However, the course was dissappointing and not at all what I was expecting. I found the heavy emphasis on the UK more in line with her own academic interests in Scotland, Ireland and England rather the comprehensive presentation of the widepread Celtic cultural sites in Eurasia. I was hoping for more examples of the diverse expression of Celtic arts and crafts at different geographical sites, some philological analysis of the Celtic language as it was expressed in different sites, at least some discussion of musicology and the music and instruments used in different Celtic cultural sites. I found her rather quick dismissal of the Celtic centres around the LaTene and Halstatt sites very disappointing. I have deep Celtic roots as do many of my friends. Through DNA analysis we have all found major connections to these regions and the Piedmont between Italy and Austria and Switzerland. Just look at the fact of Switzerland's informal name (Confederation Helvetia or CH as it is abbreviated on those old black and white bumper stickers we used to see on automobiles in Europe and North America). I think there is much more than can and should be added to a course on understanding the Celts, including deeper analysis of why Celtic culture - even as a shared linguistic group of peoples if not a monocultural, became so dispersed and who or what was responsible for the dispersal.
Date published: 2023-04-06
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Very good course I have an interest in the Celts and this lecture series is probably the best I have seen on the subject. I especially enjoyed Dr. Paxton's engaging presentation style.
Date published: 2023-01-18
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great Presentation It is easy to love a course where the lecturer is so passionate about the subject. I learned so much and appreciated the pace of the course, all of the pictures, videos and music.
Date published: 2022-12-02
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Near Perfect I'm so very happy with this course. The professor is erudite, articulate and engaging. She provides everything needed for learning to take place. Even the course booklet is excellent. The lectures fly by, even as they are packed with information and facts. To the highest degree possible, she opens the door on the Celtic world, including their beliefs, lifeways, and movements across Europe. I recommend this course very highly.
Date published: 2022-06-28
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Dr. Paxton fantastic! Both my wife and I have Celtic DNA and decided to learn a bit about our ancestors. Dr. Paxton is an incredible teacher. We enjoyed her so much we will be enjoying further lectures from her.
Date published: 2022-06-22
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Incredibly comprehensive! This took me longer than I would have liked to finish; but fulltime work, partime work, and life do tend to get in the way! SO glad to have it to go to in those 30 minutes chunks of time I did find; it was excellent. Exceedingly well prepared and presented by Prof. Paxton and the crew - many thanks!
Date published: 2022-06-22
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Overview

With 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 archaeology that totally changes our perspective on where the Celts came from. By bringing a new understanding to long-held beliefs about the Celts, this course will broaden your idea of what Celtic" really means."

About

Jennifer Paxton

It was a special joy to me to work with The Great Courses because I was already a longtime customer and fan! I know I had become a better teacher because of my years of listening to the excellent instructors in The Great Courses series.

INSTITUTION

The Catholic University of America

Jennifer Paxton is a Clinical Associate Professor of History at The Catholic University of America. She is also the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and director of the University Honors Program. She was previously a Professorial Lecturer in History at Georgetown University, where she taught for more than a decade. Jennifer received her PhD in History from Harvard University, where she also taught and earned a Certificate of Distinction in Teaching. She is a widely published, award-winning writer and a highly regarded scholar, earning both a Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities and a Frank Knox Memorial Fellowship.

Jennifer lectures regularly at the Smithsonian Institution and serves as an expert on Scotland and Ireland for Smithsonian Journeys. Her research focuses on England from the reign of King Alfred to the late 12th century. She is particularly interested in the intersection between the authority of church and state and the representation of the past in historical texts, especially those produced by religious communities. She is completing a book that examines how monastic historians shaped their narratives to project present polemical concerns onto the past. She is also working on a project that examines changing views of abbatial leadership across the Anglo-Norman world in the 11th and 12th centuries.

By This Professor

The Celtic World
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The Celtic World

Trailer

Who Are the Celts?

01: Who Are the Celts?

Professor Paxton begins this lively history course by examining the common preconceptions about Celtic identity—before smashing them to bits. The first lecture paints the initial brushstrokes on the gargantuan canvas of this European culture most widely perceived as Scottish and Irish while promising much more.

33 min
The Celts and the Classical World

02: The Celts and the Classical World

Our earliest written records of the Celts come from Italy, Greece, and Spain, dating as far back as the 6th century B.C. Although scholarly theories about the Celts’ migration throughout Europe conflict, the foundation of our understanding of their origins is laid bare here, peppered with several curious historic anecdotes.

32 min
Celtic Art and Artifacts

03: Celtic Art and Artifacts

Archaeological studies of Celtic artifacts have woven a rich tapestry of their millennia-old society and its La Tène art style. Learn about war trumpets, gold necklaces, ornate helmets, and other recovered objects from around Europe to build an image of this ever-adapting culture and its connections to the classical world.

31 min
Celtic Languages in the Ancient World

04: Celtic Languages in the Ancient World

The discovery of Celtic inscriptions on the western coast of Spain suggests the possible development of a common language along maritime Celtic trade routes, revolutionizing studies of Celtic origins and migration. The long-standing theory of Central European Celtic origins may die out thanks to new linguistic evidence.

32 min
Caesar and the Gauls

05: Caesar and the Gauls

Several centuries of violent combat against Celtic-controlled Gaul made northern Italy and southern France a dangerous neighborhood for the Romans. Hannibal, Gaius Marius, and Spartacus are just some of the famous figures of world history who encounter the Gauls in this lecture centered on Julius Caesar’s wars against the Gauls.

33 min
Celtic Religion and the Druids

06: Celtic Religion and the Druids

Celtic religious beliefs included divination, reincarnation, and human sacrifice. Along with these practices, discover the ancient religious figures known as druids who served as holy men, soothsayers, and even lawyers. Enjoy this insight into the Celtic version of one constant that appears in all civilizations—the sacred.

31 min
Celtic Britain and Roman Britain

07: Celtic Britain and Roman Britain

Professor Paxton uses the theory of trade-based migration to first explain the arrival of the Celts influence in Britain before the arrival of the Romans. Then she details the exciting struggle between the Celts and the Romans over Britain, untangling the web of history on the island during the first and second centuries A.D.

31 min
Celts and Picts in Scotland

08: Celts and Picts in Scotland

With a Romanized southern Britain, what was life like in Scotland? Meet the warring tribes of Picts that ruled North Britain, with the Irish to the west and Angles moving in from the southeast. Highlights include the ancient Pictish tongue and the truth about William “Braveheart” Wallace and all that blue paint.

30 min
Prehistoric Ireland and the Celts

09: Prehistoric Ireland and the Celts

An early Irish text called The Book of Invasions is the basis for this truly unique look back at the origins of Ireland and its people. In equal parts weird, fascinating, and humorous, this text tells of one-armed pirate giants, descendants of Noah, a tribe of sorcerers, and six full-scale takeovers of Ireland.

31 min
Celtic Britain after Rome

10: Celtic Britain after Rome

North and west of what today is England, where the Romans held far less influence, a paradoxical era of both peaceful immigration and rebellion added to the melting pot of Britain in the first millennium A.D. Discover Cornwall, Wales, and parts of Scotland with a quick appearance of one of Britain’s noblest legends: King Arthur.

32 min
Brittany and Galicia: Fringe of the Fringe

11: Brittany and Galicia: Fringe of the Fringe

See how both France and Spain welcomed immigrants from a rapidly de-Romanizing Britain. Brittany became a thriving Celtic province that maintained its autonomy through the Middle Ages, while Galicia mostly lost its Celtic identity until a revival of interest in modern times.

32 min
 Celtic Churches

12: Celtic Churches

The melding of pagan religions and Christianity is a compelling tale. St. Patrick’s legendary priesthood and missionary work are discussed, as is the Christian saint Brigid, who was remolded as a nature deity to impress the recently converted Irish. Learn how Irish monks brought Latin learning back to the European continent and “saved civilization.”

32 min
Celtic Art and Insular Art

13: Celtic Art and Insular Art

Native Britons copied much of the art style prominent on the continent, complicating the process of defining Celtic art, but Professor Paxton unties this intricate knot. Observe some of Ireland’s most breathtaking religious and secular art pieces, from the Book of Kells to the Tara Brooch.

31 min
Medieval Irish Literature

14: Medieval Irish Literature

The early Irish prized literary skill just as much as prowess in warfare, and lords were judged by the quality of poet they could hire. This lecture gives a glimpse into the diverse genres of Irish literature, from epics about mythological heroes to exciting tales designed to warn kings about the dangers of ruling unjustly.

32 min
Celtic Women, Families, and Social Structure

15: Celtic Women, Families, and Social Structure

Irish society treated all disputes as civil suits between families—so if your cousin killed someone, you had to pay some of the damages, which varied with the social status of the victim. Gain a fascinating insight into the hierarchical structure of this period and women’s roles in society as well.

34 min
The Irish Sea World: Celts and Vikings

16: The Irish Sea World: Celts and Vikings

By the turn of the first millennium A.D., we find ample evidence of Viking presence in both Ireland and Scotland. From raids to intermarriages, the Celtic-Scandinavian relationship is a stranger-than-fiction love-hate saga any history buff can appreciate.

31 min
English Invasions of Wales and Ireland

17: English Invasions of Wales and Ireland

Get a glimpse of the life of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, one of the most influential Welsh rulers, who briefly unified the country 1,000 years ago. Uncover the shocking truth of Henry II’s invasion of Ireland and its causes as well as anti-Irish propaganda and the development of cruel stereotypes that influenced English views of the Irish down to the modern period.

32 min
Scotland from Macbeth to Braveheart

18: Scotland from Macbeth to Braveheart

How do Shakespeare and Hollywood stack up against the truth in some of the fictional accounts of Scotland’s history? Learn about the historical Macbeth and William Wallace (of Braveheart fame), as well as the famous ruler Robert Bruce, who secured Scottish independence from the invading English.

33 min
Politics and Literature in Wales

19: Politics and Literature in Wales

Unveil the turbulent story of English conquest in Wales with this insightful glimpse into Welsh history that includes the unfortunate influence of misplaced loyalty to family that cost the Welsh their sovereignty forever. Then, look at Welsh literature, particularly the wonderful but enigmatic myths of the Mabinogi and the witty poems of Dafydd ap Gwilym.

32 min
The Tudor Conquest of Ireland

20: The Tudor Conquest of Ireland

After Henry VIII denounced Catholicism, England tried repeatedly to bring Ireland into its fold. With Catholicism and Protestantism at odds, Irish chieftains were caught in the middle: the English offered land deals in exchange for shedding their Irish culture and heritage. Witness the aftermath when a historic powder keg exploded, with devastating losses on both sides.

34 min
(Re)Discovering the Celts

21: (Re)Discovering the Celts

Just as the Tudors were conquering Ireland, linguistic studies of the Celtic languages began and a new fascination with the Celts slowly emerged. Witness the resurgence of mythological Celtic tales and the revival of the tartan after it was briefly banned by the British; see how fascination with the druids and Welsh bards created a newly confident Welsh identity.

33 min
The Gaelic Revival in Ireland

22: The Gaelic Revival in Ireland

Compared to the fun-loving and historically focused revival of Celtic culture in Scotland and Wales, Ireland’s Celtic revival had more of a political edge. Ancient Irish mythology played a surprising role in the growth of Irish nationalism that led to conflict and ultimately to independence from Britain.

33 min
Celtic Music and Dance

23: Celtic Music and Dance

Celtic instruments come to life in this lecture. Take a music lesson and learn about the carnyx, a war trumpet; the bodhrán, a hand drum; and the crwth, a lyre played with a bow. Treat your ears to samples of these and beautiful Irish singing, then watch clips of delightful Celtic dances based on classic traditions.

33 min
The Celts Today

24: The Celts Today

In the final lecture, end your 2,500-year journey with the Celts by considering the Celtic nations in the 21st century. Bilingualism, modern Celtic pop culture, and renewed nationalist groups pushing for political autonomy are merely the tip of the iceberg in this satisfying conclusion to a truly epic history of culture, politics, and warfare.

39 min