Chapter 4 : Early Christian Ireland

Question 0

Roman beliefs

Answer 0

First worshipped pagan gods, , fourth century roman emperor became Christian, we know it came to Ireland in 431 ad by a writer called prosper tiro

Question 1

Celtic rule

Answer 1

Celtic rule had ended as Roman Empire extended its borders as far as northern England

Question 2

St Patrick

Answer 2

Most famous christian missionary in Ireland, came from roman Britain Wales, captured at 16, worked as slave minding sheep in Ireland. Escaped after 6 years, became priest, heard voices in a dream telling to convert irish to Christianity went back to Ireland 412 ad dies 461 ad, Druids would not welcome him, so he told kings and everyone would follow, he showed a non believer the shamrock

Question 3

Monastery

Answer 3

Monks devoted their lives to prayer and work, loved in isolated places as they were so devoted to god that he was all that they wanted to think about, first one was set up by saint enda on inis mor on the Aran Islands. Skellig Michael is a great example of isolation in Kerry, little soil, brought over plants and herbs in wicker baskets, made milk and cheese from goats, ate fish and sea birds, sometimes work in fields, grow crops feed animals, only eat what they need

Question 4

Rooms

Answer 4

Monastery surrounded by an earthen bank or stone wall, oratory, refectory, beehive hut, round tower, guesthouse, scriptorium

Question 5

Oratory

Answer 5

A small rectangular church where the monks prayed

Question 6

Refectory

Answer 6

Where meals were taken

Question 7

Beehive huts

Answer 7

Corbelled roof, wood in the west, each monk had one, where they spent their day praying and studying the gospels

Question 8

Round tower

Answer 8

Was used as a place of refuge and to store valuables, door three metres from ground reached by ladder

Question 9

Guesthouse

Answer 9

Away from the monks place, beside the entrance

Question 10

Arts and crafts

Answer 10

Scribes, stone masons, metal workers

Question 11

Scribes

Answer 11

Produced hand written copies of manuscripts,wrote gospels, psalms and sagas, book of kells copy of four gospels 8 or 9 century

Question 12

Stone masons

Answer 12

Built high crosses, placed in middle of monastic settlement or marked graves, st muireadachs cross monasterboice Louth did vied into four pics from bible

Question 13

Metal workers

Answer 13

Beautiful silver chalices goldwire coloured stone twisting weaving wire filigree work

Question 14

Abbot

Answer 14

Head of monastery

Question 15

Clothes

Answer 15

Coarse un dyed wool white tunic, cape and hood, leather sandals

Question 16

Scriptorium

Answer 16

Where book copying is, very expensive to make manuscripts, sheepskin called parchment, calfskin called vellum, used a quill tail of goose or swan, herbs make ink

Question 17

Rung bell

Answer 17

Bell is rung from the top of round tower , also rings when monastery is about to be attacked, run to round tower with gold and silver

Question 18

Rules

Answer 18

Pray, fast, study, work daily

Question 19

Irish monks abroad

Answer 19

Europe was being attacked by Huns or Vikings so monks had to spread the word about Christianity quick,best known missionary was st colmcille, monasteries Derry durrow iona