Celtics
Since 400 BC Celtics have played determinant roles in Europe. According to prehistoric classing this time was named as late Iron Age. By 100 BC the Carpathian Basin was under their reign. They already used iron tools, and they built larger settlements on high ground. Several large villages were discovered along the River Danube from the first century BC. The Eravisk tribe settled down on the place of today's Budapest. Their central settlement, which was also a commercial and religious centre, was built on the top of Gellert Hill and it was strengthened by fortifications. Its name was Ak-Inko, meaning 'with plenty of water'. Hungarian Architects foundnd there Eravisk coins and potteries, which are exhibited in Budapest History Museum ( http://www.aquincum.hu/oskor/akelta.html ) and Hungarian National Museum ( http://www.mnm.hu/english/ottlap1.html ).
We know that Eravisks used iron and bronze, made painted pottery and ceramics, kept livestock like horses and cows and sheep, grew cereals and hunted in forests, and it is proven that they traded with their neighbours and even with Italy.
At the beginning of the first century AD, Romans occupied the territory and this tribal centre disappeared. Former inhabitants remain near Gellert Hill and on the plains along the Danube and they slowly Romanised, adopting the Roman culture and customs.
Romans
The Romans occupied Transdanubia (Western part of today's Hungary) around the birth of Christ. The Sava-valley, where Illyrian tribes lived, was occupied in 35 BC. Romans moved from province Dalmatia towards the Danube. In 11 BC Tiber reached the river, but he did not stabilise the Roman reign. This expansion was very important for Rome because barbarian tribes endangered its Northeastern borders. After many rebellions of Pannonian and Dalmatian tribes, (6 AD) Tiber's son, Drusus, occupied the territory (17 AD) and established a separated province, Pannonia, which Northern and Eastern frontier was the good defensible river Danube.
At that time, new nomad ethnic group, Sarmata- Iazyges tribes, crossed the Carpathians and settled in the Hungarian Plain between the river Theiss and the river Danube.
In the middle of the first century, Romans had three legions in Pannonia. These armies had an important role in 68-69 AD when they moved to Rome from Pannonia and helped Vespasian to the throne.
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