Social Class System
According to Julius Caesar, there were seven classes in Celtic society. However, he was an outsider and did not quite understand the construct of the Celtic social classes. He even added an extra class, as there are only six basic classes. He also thought that there was a noble class, but the Celts were communal and the people were free to move between classes.
The top tier of Celtic society were the Chieftains, who were elected by the tribe. Rather than lawmakers, the chiefs were administrators that were enslaved to the people. Both men and women could be elected, but the election of a woman Chieftain was quite uncommon.
The next highest tier were the professional classes, which included druids, bards, lawyers, and doctors. The Druid was responsible for passing down oral traditions, advising the chief, and knowing all local rituals, laws, customs, and myths. Female druids, also known as the ueleda or bendrui, specialized in cults of local goddesses. They were often priestesses and lived separate from the tribe with others of their kind. Anyone could enter priesthood, and the Druid had a greater authority than even the Chieftains. The bards were minstrels, storytellers, and oral tradition teachers. They were equal to the druids. Both druids and bards were required to study for around twenty years, mostly because they had to memorize all of the oral traditions.
The third highest level was the elected officials. They were the ones that carried out the administrative duties of the tribe, taking care of the tribe by doing tasks for the good of the public. For their devotion, they were provided with land during their lifetime or service time as payment.
The most essential level was the tribesmen that worked their own land, which included the herders, field workers, craftsmen, blacksmiths, and soldiers . They paid the taxes, elected officials, and formed the military. Without them the society would fall apart.
The second lowest class was the migrant tribesmen. Instead of working their own land, they hired themselves out and filled the roster of the military. Without land, that had barely any political pull.
The lowest class was the non-freemen. This class was composed of lawbreakers who had to work off their debt. It also included deserters, hostages, and prisoners of war. The Celts did not believe in the ownership of a human being, so instead of having slaves they held people for ransom.
The top tier of Celtic society were the Chieftains, who were elected by the tribe. Rather than lawmakers, the chiefs were administrators that were enslaved to the people. Both men and women could be elected, but the election of a woman Chieftain was quite uncommon.
The next highest tier were the professional classes, which included druids, bards, lawyers, and doctors. The Druid was responsible for passing down oral traditions, advising the chief, and knowing all local rituals, laws, customs, and myths. Female druids, also known as the ueleda or bendrui, specialized in cults of local goddesses. They were often priestesses and lived separate from the tribe with others of their kind. Anyone could enter priesthood, and the Druid had a greater authority than even the Chieftains. The bards were minstrels, storytellers, and oral tradition teachers. They were equal to the druids. Both druids and bards were required to study for around twenty years, mostly because they had to memorize all of the oral traditions.
The third highest level was the elected officials. They were the ones that carried out the administrative duties of the tribe, taking care of the tribe by doing tasks for the good of the public. For their devotion, they were provided with land during their lifetime or service time as payment.
The most essential level was the tribesmen that worked their own land, which included the herders, field workers, craftsmen, blacksmiths, and soldiers . They paid the taxes, elected officials, and formed the military. Without them the society would fall apart.
The second lowest class was the migrant tribesmen. Instead of working their own land, they hired themselves out and filled the roster of the military. Without land, that had barely any political pull.
The lowest class was the non-freemen. This class was composed of lawbreakers who had to work off their debt. It also included deserters, hostages, and prisoners of war. The Celts did not believe in the ownership of a human being, so instead of having slaves they held people for ransom.
Type of Governing Body
The tribal structure of the Celts was extremely democratic and subtly communist. The leader, or Chieftain, was elected, as well as all other officials, by the people of the tribe. While the elected officials had duties, they did not have any more rights than any other class. The Chieftain had an obligation to the people, and he was simply a voice for the tribe. Even the druids had more power than the chief. All tribal land was shared by the tribe, divided for the use of all. Specific sections of land were given to the elected officials for their devotion to the public good. Other sections were left for the elderly, disabled, and poor of the tribe. Individuals who had land had to pay taxes for the good of the whole, but debts were forgiven upon their death. However, there was no total ownership of land, whether or not someone was using it. All livestock and land were property of the whole tribe. The government was for the common good and treated all classes as an equal part of the tribe.
Religion's Impact on Government
The fact that the druids, or priests, were so highly valued even in government matters reveals the vast impact of religion on the Celt's government. They did not have to pay taxes, and they did not have to fight in wars. Their opinion was held over that of the elected leader, or Chieftain. Also, it is probably due to the value of nature that their religion teaches that they were communal. If nature is practically sacred, then no one man has the right to own it. Their religion would support the fact that nature was used for the good of the whole tribe, not just a small group. Since the Celts were animistic, it would only make sense for everyone and everything to be valued. The highest value was put on the oral traditions, the religion itself, over everything else. Their whole structure depended on religion.
Main Resource
The most prevalent resource in Celtic history is iron. Iron was the main resource in Celtic life from 800 to 15 BCE. Craftsmen mastered iron smelting and exquisitely decorated their metal work. Iron crafts, such as cauldrons and swords, were tossed into bodies of water as offerings to Celtic deities. Many Celtic artifacts found today are made in at least some part of iron.