Ireland: Middle Ages to the Present

Catalog description

This course examines political, religious, economic, and social developments in the Irish island from early medieval times to the present day. Topics include Celtic culture and civilization, the coming of Christianity, the Viking and Norman invasions, the English conquests in the 16th and 17th centuries, the 18th-century Protestant ascendancy, the subsequent struggle for Catholic emancipation and home rule, the Potato Famine of 1845 to 1850, the struggle for independence during the early 20th century, the ultimate establishment of the Irish republic, the current problems in Northern Ireland, and the historical ties between Ireland and the United States.