Celts = Barbarians?

[Macilrille]

Did you not read what I wrote Drewski?

I was not going to comment on such a subjective and ideologically loaded statement and just let my other post stand (as it is the penultimate answer LOL), but...

The Romans did not actually need any excuses to go and conquer their neighbours. That they were there was excuse enough. So your argument is faulty when you assume that Romans labelled Celts barbarians in order to conquer them. Under Augustus there was certainly some of that "It is Rome's call to order and rule the world" in "The Augustan School" of poets etc (Ovid, Horats, et al), but by that time Celts had long since been conquered by Romans and Germans except for Britain, and the idea of Celts as barbarians is far older than Caesar's conquest of Gaul. In fact it also spans long periods of peace, trade and alliance with Celts as well as periods of war and hostility.

Remember that by installing EB, you agreed to read more history. I encourage that, enlightenment is always good.

[Drewski]

Did you not read what I wrote Drewski?

I was not going to comment on such a subjective and ideologically loaded statement and just let my other post stand (as it is the penultimate answer LOL), but...

The Romans did not actually need any excuses to go and conquer their neighbours. That they were there was excuse enough. So your argument is faulty when you assume that Romans labelled Celts barbarians in order to conquer them. Under Augustus there was certainly some of that "It is Rome's call to order and rule the world" in "The Augustan School" of poets etc (Ovid, Horats, et al), but by that time Celts had long since been conquered by Romans and Germans except for Britain, and the idea of Celts as barbarians is far older than Caesar's conquest of Gaul. In fact it also spans long periods of peace, trade and alliance with Celts as well as periods of war and hostility.

Remember that by installing EB, you agreed to read more history. I encourage that, enlightenment is always good.

I was typing my post while yours was submitted, so they crossed over. Enjoyed your post btw.

I have read a massive amount of Roman History, and have learned to take a lot of it with a large pinch of salt. Which of course doesn't make it any less entertaining to read. You yourself, should know that objective views in Ancient History are almost impossible to come by. Almost everyone has a bias. I was just bringing my modern subjective view to the table ;)

[Macilrille]

Thank you, and I apologise for writing like a complete twat.

Objectivity is impossible in any historical context, or even in any human action. However, I percieved the post as being somewhat too subjective and monocausal. I hope you are not too miffed ;-)