大象传媒

Terry Jones pieces together new archaeological evidence to reveal the startling truth about the Barbarians, in the process discovering how the Roman propaganda machine was able to pull off a great con-trick and turn their enemies into monsters fit for childrens' stories.

In 58 BC Julius Caesar invaded Celtic Gaul. He claimed it was to protect the northern borders of the Empire from these volatile people. But Terry discovers that Caesar's account was a smokescreen for a more sinister truth.

The Celts, according to Rome, were a warring and illiterate people. Yet Terry discovers that these people had mathematical know-how way beyond the Romans. They also had a society that, in stark contrast to Rome, was compassionate and protected the young and the weak, one built on an advanced and complex trading network that spread way beyond the borders of the Celtic world.

So why was Caesar so hell-bent on the destruction of these civilised people? The latest archaeological evidence has revealed that the Celtic world was built on vast deposits of gold, and the Celts were gold miners par excellence. The ambitious Caesar was in poverty and the rich, sophisticated Celts were there for the taking.