Join cultural historian Dr Ian Stewart as he explores an ancient and diverse group of tribal peoples 鈥� the Celts.
Before the Greeks and Romans, the Celts ruled the ancient world. They sacked Rome, invaded Greece and conquered much of Europe, from Ireland to T眉rkiye. Celts registered deeply on the classical imagination for a thousand years and were variously described by writers like Caesar and Livy as unruly barbarians, fearless warriors and gracious hosts. But then, in the early Middle Ages, they vanished.
In this Members' lecture, Stewart will tell the story of their rediscovery during the Renaissance and their transformation over the next few centuries into one of the most popular European ancestral peoples.
Based on new research conducted across Europe and in the US, Stewart will reveal when and how we came to call much of Europe 'Celtic', why this idea mattered in the past and why it still matters today, as the tide of nationalism is once again on the rise.
Stewart's new book, The Celts: A Modern History (2025), is available to purchase via the or on-site. Enter your Membership number to receive a 10% discount. Click and collect at the Museum for free. Alternatively, postage rates apply for home delivery.
To attend this online event
- from 18.15 on Monday 22 September 2025. The event will be hosted on Zoom, a free video conferencing system. Please read the Zoom .
- Once you've accessed this event online, one of the Membership team will be ready to greet you and explain how to ask questions and take part. After the lecture, we hope to have time for a short Q&A with the speaker.
- If you have any queries relating to the event or need help, please email us at friends@britishmuseum.org
- Please note, once maximum capacity is reached on Zoom, Members can watch the event streamed on YouTube and will be redirected from the same '' link.
- A recording of the event will be circulated at a later date in a Members' email.