LSOC10010 Making the Irish Landscape

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module combines the distinct but complementary methods and approaches of geography, archaeology and history to explore the evolution of the Irish landscape from the arrival of the first people on the island to the present. Throughout this module, we will investigate the ways in which thousands of years of interaction between humans and their environment has given form to modern Irish rural and urban landscapes. We will explore the creation and alteration of landscapes by people through time and examine the ways in which these continue to structure the modern landscape which we inhabit or visit today. Whilst the module is primarily focused on Ireland a comparative perspective will be used to highlight key similarities and differences with other landscapes. The module includes a one-day field trip, which will allow you to directly consider and apply the various perspectives introduced within the module.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module you will:
- Understand the human impact on the Irish landscape and how the landscape has influenced human societies in Ireland
- Be able to identify key natural, built and cultural features of the Irish landscape
- Have developed key skills used to understand landscapes
- Have developed critical reading and writing skills through the production of short summaries of key features of the Irish landscape

Indicative Module Content:

• WK 3: Introducing Landscapes
• WK 4: Mesolithic and Neolithic Landscapes
• WK 5: Bronze and Iron Age Landscapes
• WK 6: Early Medieval Landscapes
• WK 7: Landscapes of Gaelic Ireland, 1500 – 1700
• WK 8: Reading Week - One Day Fieldtrip
• WK 9: Plantation Landscapes, 1586 – 1641
• WK 10: Early Modern Urban Landscapes, 1600 - 1801
• WK 11: Pre-Famine Landscapes, 1801 – 1845
• WK 12: Post-Famine Landscape Change, 1845 +

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Tutorial

4
Field Trip/External Visits

8
Autonomous Student Learning

72
Total

106
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Teaching and learning on this module will include:
- Lectures
- Active / task-based learning through peer and group work in tutorials and occasionally during lectures
- Inquiry and case-based learning through the one day fieldtrip and case study based assignments 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: 500 word 'wikipedia' entry Week 6 n/a Graded No

30
Essay: 2000 word essay Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

50
Attendance: Tutorial preparation and participation. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

20

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

- Group feedback will be provided at the start of each tutorial on the performance of the class in the previous tutorial. - Group feedback on common issues arising from the written assignment will be provided during lectures. - Timely individualised feedback will be provided via Brightspace on both written assignments. - Students are welcome to meet with the module coordinator during office hours if more detailed feedback / further clarification is required.

The following items will provide a general introduction to material covered throughout the module. More focussed readings will be suggested and/or uploaded to Blackboard as appropriate. You are also expected to read widely.

• Aalen, F.H.A, Whelan, K., Stout, M., eds. (2010) Atlas of the Irish Rural Landscape. Cork: Cork University Press.
• Barry, T.B. eds (2000) A History of Settlement in Ireland. London: Routledge.
• Bartlett, Thomas series ed. (2018) The Cambridge History of Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Brady, J. & Simms A., eds (2001) Dublin Through Space and Time (c. 900 - 1900). Dublin: Four Courts Press.
• Crawford, E.M., (2003) Counting the People, A Survey of the Irish Censuses, 1813 – 1911. Dublin: Four Courts Press.
• Crowley, J., Ó Drisceoil, D., Murphy, M., Borgonovo, J., eds. (2017) Atlas of the Irish Revolution. Cork: Cork University Press.
• Crowley, J., Smyth, W.J., Murphy, M., eds. (2012) Atlas of the Great Irish Famine. Cork: Cork University Press.
• Duffy, P.J. (2007) Exploring the History and Heritage of the Irish Landscape. Dublin: Four Courts Press.
• Graham, B.J. and Proudfoot, L.J. eds. (1993) An Historical Geography of Ireland. London: Academic Press.
• Nolan, William series ed. (various) County History and Society Series. Dublin: Geography Publications.
• Smyth, W.J. (2006) Map-making, landscapes and memory: a geography of colonial and early modern Ireland, c. 1530 – 1750. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press.
• Various eds. (various) A New History of Ireland. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Various (various) Irish Historic Towns Atlas. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy

Useful Online Resources:
• 1641 Depositions: http://1641.tcd.ie/
• 1901 and 1911 Census Online: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/
• Ask About Ireland: www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-rooom
• Down Survey of Ireland: http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/
• Heritage Maps Ireland: https://heritagemaps.ie/WebApps/HeritageMaps/index.html
• Historic Environment Viewer Application: https://www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland/historic-environment-viewer-application
• Irish Historic Towns Atlas Digital: https://www.ria.ie/chronological-listing-available-townscities
• Landed Estates Database: http://www.landedestates.ie/
• National Photographic Archive: http://www.nli.ie/en/national-photographic-archive.aspx
• Ordnance Survey of Ireland Historic Map Viewer: http://map.geohive.ie/mapviewer.html
Name Role
Dr Neil Carlin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Tadhg O'Keeffe Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Andrew Woods Lecturer / Co-Lecturer