Celtiberians

Peoples

Communities of central and north-eastern Iberia whose wars with Rome shaped the conquest of Spain.

Section: The Roman World

Category: Peoples

Overview

The Celtiberians occupied parts of the interior Iberian Peninsula and were associated with fortified settlements, local aristocracies, and formidable military resistance.

Why It Matters

The long struggle around Numantia became a symbol of endurance and of Rome’s difficulty in imposing control.

In Roman Practice

The term groups distinct communities and reflects Greek and Roman attempts to classify the peoples of Iberia.