07-22-2010, 05:26 PM
If I may chime in:
The dynamics of small exclusive groups trying to maintain an identity is precisely different from the actions of a majority group living under a foreign elite; because one is self-aware and working to preserve their uniqueness, while a majority under foreign elite is usually being lead by self-interest and cultural trickle-down into incorporating large parts of the foreigners' way of life. (i.e. Saxons in Norman England, Aztecs in Spanish Mexico). This is quite unlike the behaviour of Gypsies, or of Jews during most of the Diaspora.
We are, I believe, discussing military matters; and the ancient military Celtic traditions and organizations would have been heavily overshadowed by Roman habits, given that the Romans made a habit of settling old soldiers all over the Empire; and later, of course, the legions had regional roots - so the locals would have tended to develop legionary roots.
The dynamics of small exclusive groups trying to maintain an identity is precisely different from the actions of a majority group living under a foreign elite; because one is self-aware and working to preserve their uniqueness, while a majority under foreign elite is usually being lead by self-interest and cultural trickle-down into incorporating large parts of the foreigners' way of life. (i.e. Saxons in Norman England, Aztecs in Spanish Mexico). This is quite unlike the behaviour of Gypsies, or of Jews during most of the Diaspora.
We are, I believe, discussing military matters; and the ancient military Celtic traditions and organizations would have been heavily overshadowed by Roman habits, given that the Romans made a habit of settling old soldiers all over the Empire; and later, of course, the legions had regional roots - so the locals would have tended to develop legionary roots.
Felix Wang
