We know that the Celtic society was highly hierarchical and complex. Celtic economy was based on raiding, metallurgy, farming and trade. People could display their social class with items like torcs, weapons and other art pieces.

Julius Caesar writes in his recount of the Gallic war: “Throughout all Gaul there are two orders of those men who are of any rank and dignity: for the commonality is held almost in the condition of slaves, and dares to undertake nothing of itself and is admitted to no deliberation. The greater part, when they are pressed either by debt, or the large amount of their tributes, or the oppression of the more powerful, give themselves up in vassalage to the nobles, who possess over them the same rights without exception as masters over their slaves. But of these two orders, one is that of the druids, the other that of the knights.”

It was a male-dominated society. Julius Caesar also remarked that husbands had power over the life and death of their wives and children.

The relationships and loyalty of one community to another could be shown and guaranteed by hostages - most often sons of noble families. These hostages would live and serve with the hosting side. These hostages were often given voluntarily to some degree, in order to guarantee protection and avoid conflict. Caesar made ample use of this custom in his conquest, to ensure loyalty of Gallic tribes.



Sources: docs.google.com/document/d/1mnK9tpEvz9UgeVWuUh8fPF…

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Learn more about the history in the heart of Europe:    • History in the heart of Europe  

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