Detailed Information
Ireland in the Medieval World 400-1050: Land, Power and Ritual
This course will narrate the story of Ireland's emergence into history. The first image that we have of Ireland dates to 150 AD and allows us, for the first time, to see us as others saw us. We will look at archaeological, historical and literary evidence. The archaeology, much produced during the boom of the 'Celtic Tiger', has altered the understanding of how Irish medieval people interacted with their surroundings. The landscape, rural, urban, ecclesiastical, ceremonial and mythological will anchor our study. We will consider kingship, kings and kingdoms, religion and custom, the free and unfree, exiles and foreigners.
This was a period of profound change. A new religion was introduced bringing in its wake writing, a new language and membership of an international organisation. There are later the arrival of the Vikings brings the creation of towns, the introduction of currency and links into a wide and expanding trading network. In this period there was much change but there was also much continuity. Between these there is a tension, seen in the fusions of art motifs and styles. Some of the most beautiful object created in Western Europe come from Ireland in this period.
8 Tuesdays
10.00 - 12.00
Sept 28, Oct 05, 12, 19, 26, Nov 02, 09, 16
Online
Dr Linda Doran lectures in Early Medieval Ireland and Viking studies in the School of Irish, Celtic Studies and Folklore. She carried out a study of medieval settlement along the valleys of the Barrow, Nore and Suir rivers funded by the Heritage Council of Ireland. She has published numerous papers on settlement and communication routes, is editor of the New Ross section of the Royal Irish Academy’s Irish Historic Towns Atlas and has edited books on medieval lordship (2008) and Glendalough: City of God (2011). She is a former honorary general secretary of Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland and is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
Kings and kingship, ritual, landscape, archaeology and monuments, art and art styles
Edel Bhreathnach, 'Communities and their Landscapes'; John Carey, 'Learning, Imagination and Belief'; Jane Hawkes 'Art and Society'; Máire Ní Mhaonaigh 'Perception and Reality: Ireland c.980–1229'
Participants would have a general understand of society in Early Medieval Ireland, be able to evaluate the impact of the changes that occur, discuss the significance of these changes and explain why some changes are more fundamental than others.