War, Politics, and Identity in Late Medieval Ireland, c.1166-c.1521

Overview

This module explores the politics and culture of Ireland during the later medieval period. The module begins by assessing the state of Irish politics on the eve of the Anglo-Norman (or English) invasion of 1169. The course then charts the expansion and consolidation of English power during the later twelfth and thirteenth centuries before investigating the political and military recovery of the Gaelic Irish aristocracy during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The module pays close attention to the themes of ethnicity and identity formation. It examines how growing interaction between the Irish and English (as well as interactions with the Scots and Welsh) shaped attitudes towards being ‘Irish’ and being ‘English’ in late medieval Ireland. Students will also consider key events such as King John’s expedition of 1210, the Bruce invasions, the Black Death, Richard II’s expedition, the Wars of the Roses, and the impact of the Renaissance. The module concludes by examining the advent of the Tudors and the beginning of early modernity in Ireland. During the course, students will engage with a range of debates on the history and culture of late medieval Ireland. They will also be introduced to a rich meld of primary source material including Irish annals, bardic poetry, genealogical material, as well as English sources such as governmental records and chronicles.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of how Irish politics evolved c.1166-1521
• Discuss how scholarship has evolved on medieval Irish history
• Think critically about some of the main political, economic, social, and environmental factors shaping Irish history in this period
• Communicate ideas to others in a clear and concise manner, in both oral and written form

Skills

Upon successful completion of this module students will have:
• Enhanced their critical and analytical skills through close readings of primary sources.
• Completed a detailed literature review of the main debates in the secondary literature.
• Employed library skills to prepare assignments and research.
• Developed a greater degree of self-directed learning.
• Enhanced their oral and written presentation skills.

Assessment

None