The Celts dominated the ancient world - from Ireland in the west to Turkey in the east, from Belgium in the north, south to Spain and Italy, sacking Rome itself in 390 BC. Others moved eastward into what is now Czechoslovakia, moving along the Danube valley as far as the Black Sea. This was The Celtic Empire. But it was without an emperor or central government, created instead by independent tribal societies. These tribes were ruled by elected rulers, both men and women, for example Vercingetorix of the Arverni in Gaul or Boudicca of the Iceni in Britain. The Celts were one of the founders of European civilization, the first North European people to emerge into recorded history. They have survived today only on the western seaboard of Europe: the Irish, Manx, Scots, Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons. The author also wrote: Celtic Inheritance(1985), A Guide to Early Celtic Remains(1991) and Dictionary of Irish Mythology(1987).