The Celts and their oppida
The Celtic tribe was mentioned for the first time in ancient Greek writings at the turn of the fifth and sixth century BC.
The Celtic civilization developed and flourished in eastern France, Switzerland, southwest Germany and southwest Bohemia. In the sixth century BC, Bohemia saw to the emergence of a rich aristocratic class, who engaged in economic and cultural relations with developed Mediterranean countries. This led to the birth of La Tène culture, named after an archaeological site located in the Swiss city of La Tène.
In the fifth century BC, Celts penetrated into northern Italy and then invaded a large part of Europe.
In 279 BC, the Celts plundered the Delfi sanctuary. A certain number of Celtic tribes settled in Small Asia, where they formed a state, Galatia.
During the first half of the second century AD, a new type of settlement emerged in Bohemia (as well as in a large part of Celtic Europe). In The Gallic Wars, Caesar used the denomination of oppidum. These fortified urban settlements were the centre of workmanship, trade, administration and cult.
New urban settlements expanded mainly by the most significant thoroughfare, used for transfortation of merchandise and for distant communication. Oppida in the Bohemian dell were located by the Vltava road (Závist, Hrazany, Třísov) and its affluxes (Stradonice). On the other hand, the Moravian road controlled one of the important southnorthern routes, the amber footpath and the flowline between Moravia and Bohemia (Staré Hradisko). The Oppidum of České Lhotice was founded halfway between both southnorthern communications, specifically between Závist and Staré Hradisko.
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