Changes

==History==

==History==

[[Image:Extent200BC.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The height of Celtic power, 200BC]]

[[Image:Extent200BC.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The height of Celtic power, 200BC]]

The origin of the Celts is currently disputed. Genetic evidence suggests the Celts originated in south-west [[France]] <ref>Oppenheimer, S. (2006) The Origins of the British: A Genetic Detective Story. Robinson Publishing.</ref> whilst cultural and some historical evidence suggests that the Celts originated in [[Switzerland]]. The Celts were never a single unified power, but rather a collection of related tribes and kingdoms which, in the 3rd century BC, at their greatest spread covered vast swathes of Europe from the [[Black Sea]] to the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the early accounts of the Celts come from Hellenic sources as the Celts had little written language until the Middle Ages. Because the greatest contact between the Celts and [[Greeks]] was martial, many of the early records are of such a nature and also of uncertain neutrality. One non-military account of the early Celts is from the Latin writer Avienus who states that the Celts were famous seafarers who built vessels from leather rather than pine.<ref>Rankin, D. (1996) Celts and the classical world. Routledge.</ref>

The origin of the Celts is currently disputed. Genetic evidence suggests the Celts originated in south-west [[France]]<ref>Oppenheimer, S. (2006) The Origins of the British: A Genetic Detective Story. Robinson Publishing.</ref> whilst cultural and some historical evidence suggests that the Celts originated in [[Switzerland]]. The Celts were never a single unified power, but rather a collection of related tribes and kingdoms which, in the 3rd century BC, at their greatest spread covered vast swathes of Europe from the [[Black Sea]] to the Atlantic Ocean. Much of the early accounts of the Celts come from Hellenic sources as the Celts had little written language until the Middle Ages. Because the greatest contact between the Celts and [[Greeks]] was martial, many of the early records are of such a nature and also of uncertain neutrality. One non-military account of the early Celts is from the Latin writer Avienus who states that the Celts were famous seafarers who built vessels from leather rather than pine.<ref>Rankin, D. (1996) Celts and the classical world. Routledge.</ref>

The dominance of the Celts over Europe was gradually replaced by the rise of Rome and then finished on the continent by the great Germanic migrations that caused Rome's fall. Whilst the Celts in mainland Europe were in catastrophic decline, the Insular Celts of the British Isles were thriving. The Insular Celts were a major factor in the spread of Christianity in north-west Europe during this time. During the Middle Ages, the smaller Celtic kingdoms of the British Isles amalgamated into larger kingdoms, such as Rìoghachd na h-Alba, which later became the kingdom of Scotland. Much of the history of the Celts at this time is occupied with internal conflict amongst rival Celtic kingdoms and clans and external conflict against Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans.   

The dominance of the Celts over Europe was gradually replaced by the rise of Rome and then finished on the continent by the great Germanic migrations that caused Rome's fall. Whilst the Celts in mainland Europe were in catastrophic decline, the Insular Celts of the British Isles were thriving. The Insular Celts were a major factor in the spread of Christianity in north-west Europe during this time. During the Middle Ages, the smaller Celtic kingdoms of the British Isles amalgamated into larger kingdoms, such as Rìoghachd na h-Alba, which later became the kingdom of Scotland. Much of the history of the Celts at this time is occupied with internal conflict amongst rival Celtic kingdoms and clans and external conflict against Anglo-Saxons, Vikings and Normans.