The Celts, the European people of the prehistoric period, also known as the Gauls, are still culturally alive even if they disappeared militarily over time. It is also remarkable that they are effective enough to leave a mark in many different parts of the world. So, are the Celts Turks who shaped Europe and resemble us in many ways?
The further we move away from contemporary history by going backwards from the present, the more complex the first years of civilizations become. We know a lot about the peoples who lived in the regions where civilization was established, such as Mesopotamia and Egypt, but what happened in lands that were relatively later introduced to humans, such as Europe, is still somewhat complicated. The Celts are the first group we encounter in this mess.
These people, called Gauls by the Romans and Celts by the Greeks, are thought to have been natives of Central Europe in the prehistoric period. Traders, immigrants, and mighty warriors, these people are very similar to us. This too Are the Celts Turks? raises the question. Let’s see who the Celts are, who still have a great impact on civilization in cultural terms.
Who are the Celts?
Celts, It is a people who lived in Europe in the prehistoric period and the First Age. This people, who encountered Greek traders in the Rhône Valley 2600 years ago, was named Keltoi by the Greek geographer Hecataeus about a hundred years later, and this name was later translated as Latin Celtae by the Romans.
It may not be correct to say that the Celts are actually a single people. A structure called Celtic culture, pre-Roman Empire. shared common denominators in iron age Europe It is also used to express In other words, instead of seeing the Celts as just a group of people, we can also see the Celts as a culture with the same belief and language for a period.
What do we know about the Celts?
Unfortunately, except for a few simple inscriptions, they did not leave any written sources that have survived to the present day. Everything we know about the Celts comes from Greek and Roman records. Again, according to what we learned from these sources, the Celts; They were a people who traded, spoke a strange language, and loved warriors and cool items.
The source for the existence of the Celts in Central Europe is a travel record written by Pytheas in 4 BC. It speaks of the existence of Celts in the lands northwestern France. We learn from different Greek sources that the Celts crossed the Alps in groups and went to Northern Italy in 5 BC.
Findings from an excavation in the 1870s actually show that the Celts conquered Italy around 450 BC. Similar remains have been found in the Great British Isles, Spain and Gaul. Already in 1 BC Roman Emperor Written by Julius Caesar after the conquest of Gaul The following lines prove to us that the Celts were natives of Europe; in their language they call themselves Celtic, we call them Gaul.
Are the Celts Turks, where did they come from in Central Europe?
For the answer to the question of whether the Celts are Turks, Assoc. Dr. Let’s examine the article titled Ancient Languages and Writings by Haluk Berkmen. According to Berkmen’s claim, the Celtic name Kalat, derived from a word meaning remaining, settled, became Galat and later Gaul. Celtic traces in the ruins found in Ankara, Konya and Çorum supports this situation.
Berkmen, who thinks that the transformation of the letter K into the letter G belongs to the Turkish language, is clearly visible in the ruins thought to belong to the Celts. He says there are traces of Asian and Turkish culture. The presence of figures such as humans, deer and antlers cross-legged in the remains of Celtic culture without writing supports this claim.
Denying that the Celts came to Anatolia from Central Europe, Berkmen says that the absence of any Celtic remains between Istanbul and Konya refutes this claim of migration. Although there is no definitive evidence A Turkic branch of the Celts who migrated from Asia to Central Europe It is possible to say that. However, apart from minor cultural similarities, there is no valid evidence on this issue.
When, where did the Celts live, and how did they perish?
It is not possible to say for sure when and where the Celts first appeared. However, since they were able to invade Northern Italy in 450 BC, the date line much earlier. possible to start.
In the years when the Roman Empire conquered Europe with thunder, This is when the Celts’ downfall began. Because it is a known fact that the Romans defeated the Gauls, the Celts, and greatly reduced their military power during this most powerful period.
Looking at the findings we have today, we can say that the Celts lived in England and its islands, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Gaul, Anatolia and even Austria. Although they do not have military strength they influenced these regions with their culture until the medieval period. However, it is not possible to say that the Celts were over in the Middle Ages because even today it is possible to see reflections of Celtic culture in important European countries.
The people who make Europe Europe Who are the Celts, where and when did they live, are the Celts Turks? We answered the frequently asked questions and talked about the details you need to know about the subject. You can share your thoughts about the Celts in the comments.