The intellectual class of the ancient were called Druids. Druid literally means 'finding the oak tree' in the Celtic language. Druids held the office of teachers, judges and priests and appear to have inhabited northern Europe since the third century BC. Julius Caesar's writings provide most of the knowledge of their practices. It is known that the Druids met in a sacred place annually to judge legal disputes. The place was in the territory of the and was believed to be the center of all Gaul. Druids believe in reincarnation and their learning covers astronomy, the ways of the gods, ancient verses and philosophy. Druids, who base their culture on that of their ancient predecessors, still exist in parts of northern Europe.
