Course info

It has been claimed that the Irish have suffered because they have too much history. Certainly, Irish history encapsulates issues that continue to bedevil historians: religious division, violence, invasions, and military subjugation. We will begin the semester with a brief overview of the early history of the island of Ireland, including the introduction of Christianity, and conclude with the question of the North. Along the way we will examine the lasting influence of the Celtic, Viking, Norman, and English invasions by exploring a range of topics including the Tudor revolutions, English colonialism and penal laws, the question of religion and Irish identities, Irish Republicanism and home rule movements, the partition of Ireland, and the thirty years of “Troubles” in the north of the island. We will also explore peace movements, reconciliation, and the Good Friday Agreement.