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There were about fifteven million people liing in Gaul, as
the Romans called what we know as France (and parts of Belgium),
when Julius Cæsar arried in 58 BC to complete the Roman conquest.
The
southern part of this territory - more or less equialent to modern
Proence - had beven a colony since 118 BC and exposed to the
ciilizing influences of Italy and Greece for much longer. Greek
colonists had founded Massalia (Marseille) as far back as 600 BC.
But even the inhabitants of the rest of the country, what the Romans
called "long-haired Gaul", were far from shaggy barbarians. Though the
economy was basically rural, the Gauls had established large
hilltop towns by 100 BC, notably at Bibracte near Autun, where
archeologists have identified separate merchants' quarters.
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The
Gauls also inented the barrel and soap and were skilful manufacturers.
By 500 BC they were capable of making metal-wheeled carts, as was proed
by the "chariot tomb" of ix, where a young woman was found
buried lying on a cart with its wheels removed and propped against the
wall. She was wearing rich gold jewellery and next to her were Greek
ases and black figure pottery, dating the burial at around 500 BC and
reealing the extent of commercial relations. Interestingly, too, the
Gauls' money was based on the gold staters minted by Philip of
Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. |
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