The Celts (2000 TV series)
A 2000 documentary series on Celtic origins and culture.
Produced by Opus Television for the Welsh channel S4C, *The Celts* (Welsh: *Y Celtiaid*) is a documentary series that first aired in 2000. The programme explores the origins of the Celts, their cultural distinctiveness among European peoples, and features dramatized historical events alongside visits to present-day Celtic regions. That same year, a companion book by John Davies was released through Cassell & Co., and the series was acquired by the American cable network Celtic Vision.
The documentary draws on insights from numerous archaeologists and Celtic studies scholars, including Jörg Biel, Peter Connolly, Barry Cunliffe, Markus Egg, Michel Egloff, John T. Koch, Barry Raftery, Colin Renfrew, Peter Reynolds, Thomas Stöllner, and Bryan Sykes. Its six episodes trace Celtic origins ("In the Beginning"), examine the La Tène period ("Heroes in Defeat"), explore ancient religion and Druidism ("The Sacred Groves"), cover the post-Roman era and the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons ("From Camelot to Christ"), address Viking and Norman invasions alongside the Protestant Reformation's impact ("Legend and Reality"), and consider the ongoing struggle for Celtic identity ("A Dead Song?"). The series was released on DVD by Kultur International Films in 2010.
- type
- Television documentary series
- year
- 2000
- producer
- Opus Television
- original_channel
- S4C (Wales)
- book_author
- John Davies
- publisher
- Cassell & Co.
- dvd_release
- 2010 by Kultur International Films
Lore & Background
The series consists of six episodes: 'In the Beginning' traces the origin of the Celts; 'Heroes in Defeat' examines the La Tène era, the heyday of Celtic culture; 'The Sacred Groves' looks at ancient Celtic religion, especially Druidism; 'From Camelot to Christ' claims that after the collapse of the Roman Empire, Vortigern, King of the Britons, invited the Anglo-Saxons into Britain to help fight the Picts, and that Christianity was established during the Anglo-Saxon era; 'Legend and Reality' covers Viking and Norman invasions from the 8th century onward and the marginalization of Celtic communities after the Protestant Reformation; and 'A Dead Song?' examines the meaning and threats to Celtic identity, noting that the struggle to define an identity still continues today.
Reader's Guide
The Celts (2000 TV series) serves as a historical reference for understanding Celtic identity, origins, and cultural distinctiveness within Europe. It features a range of archaeologists and scholars of Celtic studies, including Jörg Biel, Peter Connolly, Barry Cunliffe, Markus Egg, Michel Egloff, John T. Koch, Barry Raftery, Colin Renfrew, Peter Reynolds, Thomas Stöllner, and Bryan Sykes. The series was adapted into a book by John Davies and released on DVD in 2010. Its significance lies in its comprehensive coverage of Celtic history from ancient origins through the La Tène period, Druidism, the post-Roman era, Viking and Norman invasions, the Protestant Reformation's impact, and ongoing debates about Celtic identity. The programme's sale to the American cable network Celtic Vision indicates its international reach.
Did You Know?
- The series was produced by Opus Television for the Welsh channel S4C.
- A book adaptation by John Davies was published in the same year by Cassell & Co.
- The programme was sold to the American cable network Celtic Vision in 2000.
- The series was released on DVD by Kultur International Films in 2010.
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