Medieval Ireland is often described as a backward-looking nation in which change only came about as a result of foreign invasions. By examining the wealth of under-explored evidence available, Downham challenges this popular notion and demonstrates what a culturally rich and diverse place medieval Ireland was. Starting in the fifth century, when St Patrick arrived on the island, and ending in the fifteenth century, with the efforts of the English government to defend the lands which it ruled directly around Dublin by building great ditches, this up-to-date and accessible survey charts the internal changes in the region. Chapters dispute the idea of an archaic society in a wide-range of areas, with a particular focus on land-use, economy, society, religion, politics and culture. This concise and accessible overview offers a fresh perspective on Ireland in the Middle Ages and overthrows many enduring stereotypes.
Author(s): Clare Downham
Series: Cambridge Medieval Textbooks
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: XVI+394
List of Figures page vii
List of Maps viii
Acknowledgements ix
List of Abbreviations x
Introduction 1
Part I. Early Medieval Ireland AD 400–1100 7
1. Ireland in the Fifth Century 9
2. Land Use and Economy AD 500–1100 23
3. Society AD 500–1100 61
4. Politics AD 500–1100 81
5. Religion AD 500–1100 114
6. The Arts AD 500–1100 148
Epilogue to Part I 180
Part II. Late Medieval Ireland AD 1100–1500 181
7. Landscape and Economy AD 1100–1500 183
8. Society AD 1100–1500 211
9. Politics AD 1100–1500 238
10. Religion AD 1100–1500 279
11. The Arts AD 1100–1500 310
Conclusion 342
Appendix: A Guide to Surnames 345
Bibliography 348
Index 378
