Ireland in the Medieval Ages. A brief but engaging slide set focused on covering this period within a 50 minute class

1. Ireland in the
Medieval ages

2. What will we be looking at?
We will be examining the
key events, figures,
battles and conquests
between 400 AD and
1500 AD - The Medieval
period in Ireland

3. The three Medieval periods in Ireland
400 AD to 800 AD -
800 AD to 1150 AD -
1150 AD to 1550 AD -
Early Medieval Ages
Middle Medieval Ages
Late Medieval Ages

4. Early Ireland
Ireland early on was
characterised by Irish
Kingdoms led by Chieftains
The most powerful Chieftain
was granted the title the High
King of Ireland

5. A fractured nation
War and feuds were commonplace amongst
these kingdoms called ‘In-fighting’
This divided nature would lead to many
problems down the line

6. Early Christain Ireland
Christianisation
To become Christain through conversion

7. Many Christain missionaries were sent to Ireland by
the Pope to convert the local Pagans
During this time many Churches and Monasteries
were built across the Island while works of art and
craftsmanship were produced

8. Saint Patrick

9. The Book Of Kells

12. Ireland Chieftains continued
to squabble amongst
themselves during this period
until…

13. Norse Explorers known otherwise as….
The Vikings
795 AD

14. They would forever play a huge role in the
course of the Island

16. The price tag of monasteries
Ireland went through its golden age in art,
craftsmanship and literature in the early medieval
ages.
By the time the vikings arrived, there were countless
amounts of valuables on the Island with many being
located inside of monasteries!

17. And well… monks made for poor defenders and
easy pickings
The Norse raiders could collect large amount of
gold and valuables from the monasteries as well
as slaves in the form of monks without much
resistance
And they were good at it…

22. Vikings Settle
These Norse raiders went about very much
unopposed for years as Irish Chieftains sought to
defeat them by themselves
In order to maximize their position, the Vikings
decided to establish permanent settlements changing
from seasonal to year round raids

23. Such Vikings settlements
include:
• Dublin
• Cork
• Limerick
• Waterford
• Wexford

26. The decline of the Vikings
The presence of Viking raids continue although life
in Ireland didn’t stop as Irish Chieftains found
effective ways to fight back
The Norse invaders instead focused on using their
settlements as trade centres while directing armed
forces towards England

27. The Battle of Clontarf
• Took place on April 23rd 1014 between the
High King of Ireland Brian Boru and an
alliance of Viking and Irish forces
• Brian Boru emerged victorious but at a cost…
• This battle marked the end of Viking
dominance in Ireland

28. What is Christianisation?

29. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion

30. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion
In what year did the Vikings first raid Ireland?

31. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion
In what year did the Vikings first raid Ireland?
- 795 AD

32. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion
In what year did the Vikings first raid Ireland?
- 795 AD
Name three settlements the Vikings established.

33. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion
In what year did the Vikings first raid Ireland?
- 795 AD
Name three settlements the Vikings established.
- Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford

34. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion
In what year did the Vikings first raid Ireland?
- 795 AD
Name three settlements the Vikings established.
- Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford
Bonus Question!

35. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion
In what year did the Vikings first raid Ireland?
- 795 AD
Name three settlements the Vikings established.
- Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford
Bonus Question!
Who did the Vikings raid first Ireland or England?

36. What is Christianisation?
- To become Christain through conversion
In what year did the Vikings first raid Ireland?
- 795 AD
Name three settlements the Vikings established.
- Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford
Bonus Question!
Who did the Vikings raid first Ireland or England?
- England at Lindisfarne

37. Late Medieval Ireland
Vikings who?
“Welcome to Feudalism
Ireland”
From the Normans x

38. The Normans arrive
Internal fighting leads to fresh foreign conquest
After being defeated in Ireland, King Dairmait Mac
Murchada of Leinster sailed to England in 1166
enlisting the help of Anglo-French noblemen led by the
Earl of Pembroke, also known as Strongbow, who was
made heir of Leinster in return.

39. • In 1169 Strongbow landed in Ireland quickly taking Dublin
and Leinster.
• When Mac Murchada died, Strongbow became King of
Leinster in 1171.
• The English King grew concerned at this independent Kingdom
and sailed to Ireland in 1171. Strongbow humbly apologized
and turned Leinster over in return for being made King of
Leinster.

40. Over time the Normans became more “Irish than the
Irish themselves”
The drive amongst Normans to conquer died down as
they integrated with the locals adopting the culture,
traditions and language - The Pale
Irish Chieftains saw their decline and took advantage

43. English control restarts
English authority in London grew resentful at the lack of control in
Ireland - they wanted more control like the Normans first did
After crushing rebellions, Henry the 8th expanded the Pale while
creating treaties with Irish Lords in 1533
In 1541, Henry went against the expressed wishes of the Pope and
made himself the King of Ireland as well as England. This resulted in
an increase in English immigration and settlement in Ireland.