Celtic expansion in Europe

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In V century, the Celts had already conquered a remarkable area of Europe.

they spoke different languages, that we now distinguish in two main groups: the continental and the insular one.

The first one includes Gallic, "Lepontico" and "Celtibero", which are languages testified only by writings in I century;

the second one includes languages still spoken by almost two milion persons in some areas

of Great Britain (Scotland and Wales), Ireland and Brittany: those languages are Gaelic Welsh and Breton.

Welsh language is the most rooted: that's the only Celtic language which,

though belonging to a minority group, ha sreal chances to survive, expecially because of a big

religious literature dating back to XVI century which has intensified the interest of Welsh

people for the recognition of their own historical and national identity. The Celtic expansions started

toward east in V century b. C.. Some grouop of warriors invaded the Balcanes

and occupied the now-called Romania. Their conquest wa sstopped in 279 b.C. at Delfi, where their king, brenno,

was defeated after sacking several Greek places. Other Celtic groups went towards Asia Minore,

where they were given some lands - Galazia- as a reward for some favours done to the king of Bitinia.

During the first millenium b. C. the Celtic invasion of British islands and, step by step, of

several areas of Europe, took place: France, Iberian peninsula, Germany, Switzerland, Northern austria,

Ungaria, Czech and Slovak Republic

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