Early Medieval Ireland
The coming of Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century marked the beginning of the early medieval period. A Christian civilization came into being and great works of art were produced. But Ireland was drawn painfully into the Viking world and society saw radical change. The period ended with a true turning-point - the 12th-century Norman invasion.
Christian Ireland
Patrick, and others, brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. Metalwork, manuscripts and stone carvings were soon being produced by the Church.
The Ulster Museum can claim the earliest example of Irish Christian metalwork, the Clonmore shrine. This tomb-shaped container h...
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Social Structure
Ireland consisted of small kingdoms in four (originally five) provinces. Ties of kinship were important and there were grades of rich and poor. The landscape was peppered with churches, and ringforts, homes of the wealthy.
Wealth was measured in cattle; a stave-built, wooden dash-churn from Liss...
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Vikings
The Vikings raided western Europe in the 9th and 10th centuries, and Irish monasteries were often targets. But by 1000 AD the Vikings had founded towns and intermarried with the Irish; they had adopted Christianity and were minting the first Irish coins. An exceptional hoard from Co Armagh contai...
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