Location:
France
Coordinates:
48.0000, 2.0000
Events at Gaul (19)
500 BC
ID: 5367
Celtic wine consumption peaks - Diodorus describes Celts drinking wine unmixed (barbaric to Greeks), trading slave for amphora of wine
ID: 5367
300 BC
ID: 5372
Celtic coinage begins - imitating Greek and Macedonian coins, especially Philip II gold staters, shows economic sophistication
ID: 5372
300 BC
ID: 5384
Celts invent chainmail - revolutionary armor technology later adopted by Romans, made from 20,000+ iron rings
ID: 5384
200 BC
ID: 3665
Druidic sanctuaries flourishing - centers of learning, law, and ritual, accused of human sacrifice
ID: 3665
200 BC
ID: 5386
Celts invent wheeled reaper - Pliny describes Celtic vallus harvesting machine pushed by oxen, not reinvented until 1800s
ID: 5386
200 BC
ID: 5390
Celtic women's high status noted - Romans shocked by female property rights, women warriors, queens leading armies
ID: 5390
150 BC
ID: 5387
Celts invent soap - Pliny credits Gauls with soap making from tallow and ash, exported to Rome for hair dyeing
ID: 5387
150 BC
ID: 5391
Annual assembly at Carnutes - druids gather at sacred center of Gaul to settle disputes, elect chief druid
ID: 5391
100 BC
ID: 5388
Celts invent wooden barrel - replaces heavy ceramic amphorae for wine storage and transport, revolutionizes trade
ID: 5388
90 BC
ID: 5380
Slave raids devastate Celtic society - tribes raid each other for slaves to trade for Roman wine, Posidonius describes social collapse
ID: 5380
80 BC
ID: 5381
Druids oppose wine trade - see Roman luxury corrupting warrior culture, attempt to limit wine consumption and Roman influence
ID: 5381
58 BC
ID: 2692
Caesar begins Gallic Wars - defeats Helvetii and Ariovistus, conquest of Gaul begins
ID: 2692
57 BC
ID: 2693
Caesar conquers Belgae - toughest fighters in Gaul subdued, most of Gaul under Roman control
ID: 2693
55 BC
ID: 2694
Caesar crosses Rhine and invades Britain - first Roman to do both, more propaganda than conquest
ID: 2694
55 BC
ID: 5392
Caesar describes wicker man sacrifices - claims druids burn criminals alive in huge wicker cages shaped like men
ID: 5392
51 BC
ID: 5399
Caesar's Gallic genocide complete - Plutarch: 1 million dead, 1 million enslaved, 300 tribes conquered, 800 cities destroyed
ID: 5399
40 BC
ID: 5401
Gallo-Roman villa culture emerges - Celtic aristocrats adopt Roman lifestyle, wine production begins in Gaul, hybrid culture develops
ID: 5401
70
ID: 5403
Gallic wine production surpasses Italian - former barbarians now export wine to Rome, Pliny complains about competition
ID: 5403
448
ID: 2811
Merovech fights alongside Romans against Attila - legendary founder of Merovingian dynasty, possibly mythical, said to be born of sea monster
ID: 2811