The Gauls

The Gauls lived in the land we now call France. They were part of the Celtic peoples. The Gauls lived in villages and farms spread across the countryside. They had their own language, gods, and ways of life. Then the Romans came and changed everything.

Gaulish Life

The Gauls were farmers and craftworkers. They grew wheat and raised pigs, sheep, and cows. Gaulish metalworkers made fine weapons, tools, and jewelry. Each tribe had its own chief and territory. Sometimes tribes fought each other, and sometimes they worked together.

Fighting the Romans

About 2,000 years ago, the Roman general Julius Caesar led his army into Gaul. The Romans wanted to take over the land. A brave Gaulish leader named Vercingetorix tried to stop them. He brought many tribes together to fight. In the end, the Romans won and Gaul became part of the Roman Empire.

Fun Facts

• The French comic book character Asterix is a Gaul.
• Gaul was much bigger than France is today.
• The Gauls once attacked and captured the city of Rome.

Did You Know?

The French people get their name from a later group called the Franks, but much of their culture began with the Gauls.