HI1202 Ireland, 1000-1250: Brian Boru to the English Invasion
Module Organiser: Professor Sean Duffy
Duration: Michaelmas Term
Contact hours: 2 lectures per week and 6 tutorials over the course of the term
Weighting: 10 ECTS
Assessment: 20% Essay; 80% Examination
Description: This module begins with the iconic battle of Clontarf in 1014 at which the high-king, Brian Boru, fought enemies that included the descendants of the Viking founders of Dublin. Study is made of the after-effects of the Vikings on Irish society, before moving to examine the causes and implications of the Anglo-Norman invasion of the late twelfth century, especially the ensuing upheaval in Irish political life and Anglo-Irish relations. The module also offers a critical evaluation of the changing role of the church in medieval Irish life, and attention is paid to the patterns of human settlement and the physical imprint of man on the landscape: where and how did people live, and what survives today in terms of archaeology and architecture?
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
- Outline chronologically the principal developments in the history of Ireland between 1000 and 1250
- Assess the causes and consequences during this period of the English invasion of Ireland
- Discuss the core features of Irish society during the high middle ages
- Analyse the impact of different aspects of political, social and cultural development in Ireland during the high middle ages
- Undertake a basic analysis and evaluation of selected primary sources in translation relating to Irish history in the high middle ages
- Present and discuss in written and oral format analysis of key questions relating to the history of Ireland during the high Middle Ages.