medieval Ireland Flashcards
1
Q
medieval period
A
5th century AD- renaissance
2
Q
written sources
A
- annals: account of the year, i.e. annals of Ulster
- chronicles: history from genesis to present
- genealogical texts: about descents of Gaelic/Anglo-Norman families, i.e. book of Leinster
3
Q
names for irish people
A
- Celts (noble)
- Gauls (warriors)
- Barbarians (out of Rome’s border)
4
Q
idea of Ireland (Hibernia)
A
- part of Britain
- sacred island
- part of Rome’s mission of civilisation
5
Q
description of Ireland from Roman world
A
- Caesar in “Gallic War” 1st cent. BC
- Pomponius Mela in “De situ Orbis”
- Tacitus in “Agricola” 1st cent. AD
6
Q
romanisation
A
- 5th-7th cent. AD by association
- economy: free-trade
- military: road networks
- food: agriculture and diet
- literature: latin-based alphabet
- migration: irish settlement in Britain
7
Q
Palladius
A
- A.U. 431: arrival in Ireland
- conversion mission by the pope
8
Q
Patrick
A
- A.U. 432: arrival in Ireland
- from Britain as slave
- spread Christianity
- protect freedom
- “Confessio” and “Epistola to the soldiers of Coroticus”
9
Q
literacy and education
A
- restricted
- ogham: commemorative function
- monastic scriptorium
10
Q
irish script
A
- insular script: from uncial and half-uncial scripts
- large-decorated capital letters
- grammar of legibility
- spoken latin for clergy members
- grammar schools
11
Q
legal tracts
A
- “Senechus Mar” 5th cent
- “Bertha Nemed Toiseach” 8th cent
- about landownership, farming, husbandry, rank, injuries, contracts
- legal rules and myth
12
Q
social division
A
- hierarchical society
- free: kings, aristocracy
- unfree: slaves, semi-free peasants
13
Q
honour price
A
- fine for any major offence committed against a person
- price set according to the offence
14
Q
church and law
A
- influence pf canon law
- “Law of innocents”: protection for women
15
Q
household
A
-kin-group: extended family (4 gens)
- rath: ring-fort, for nobles and strong framers
- dun: fortified settlement, for kings and lords
- cathair: monastic enclosure, for clergy
16
Q
marriage
A
- patriarchal society
- polygyny: 1 husband, more wives
- adulteress: 2nd wife not recognised
- “Regulation of marriage” 700 AD
- divorce: by either spouse
- “Union of joint income”: property contributions, between people of same status
17
Q
fosterage
A
- legally contracted relationship
- informal without contract
- higher fee for girls
- different treatment according to status
- political instrument for alliances
18
Q
farming life
A
- farm layout: round, enclosed area for livestock and crops
- souterrain: underground passage for storage
- coinless society, baratto as payment
- cultivable and uncultivable land
19
Q
rituals of death
A
- 527-565 AD: pestilence
- royal deaths: wounding, burning, drowning the body
- causes: battle, disease, murder, natural, execution
-christian death: cemeteries, idea of resurrection - deviant burials: mutilation, decapitation, removal of organs
20
Q
irish abroad
A
- peregrinatio: pilgrimage, renunciation of comforts
- Colm Cille: monastic sites fro manuscript production
- Columbanus: monasteries in Central Europe, private penance, confession
- Johannes Scottus: “De divisione naturae”
21
Q
arts and treasures
A
- dark age
- gold brooches, chalices, hoards
- emulation of roman elite
- insular art: from 8th cent
- important artefacts: Book of Kells, Tara brooch, Book of Durrow
- metal/stone work: Ardagh chalice, christian object with irish patterns
22
Q
heathens (vikings): 1st phase
A
- A.U. 794: devastation of isolated monasteries
- from Scandinavian warrior culture
- slave-trade of irish, burning of monastic sites
23
Q
heathens: interlude
A
- A.U. 848: fight-back
- A.U. 849: viking naval expedition
- A.U. 852: fair foreigners against dark foreigners
- permanent settlements from 841
24
Q
viking world
A
- no attacks between 873-913: internal civil war
- trade and commerce: up to Russia
- A.U. 904: return to Ireland
- conversion to christianity
- re-establishment of irish royalties
