This course looks at the development of society, church and state in Ireland in the wake of the Viking raids and settlements. This period sees the evolution of strong dynastic kingships, and the rise of competition for dominance of the whole island, as well as the creation of some early medieval Ireland's most important literary texts, artistic monuments, and archaeological sites, including the evolution of Dublin. Current debates are emphasised, and students are encouraged to form views concerning these. A key element in the course is its interdisciplinary approach, encompassing the disciplines of history, archaeology, literature, religion and art history.

15x1hr lectures; 5x1hr seminars over ten weeks as scheduled in MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options for Celtic & Gaelic and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

None.

None.

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (2,250 words) - 25%

■ Exam (120 minutes duration) - 50%

■ Oral Presentation - 5%

■ Written Summary (800 words) - 15%

■ Class preparation and participation - 5%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ There is no alternative to the exam, but extra time can be offered as reasonable adjustments.

■ Recorded presentation as alternative to the oral presentation.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ Provide an introduction to the historical and archaeological developments in Viking Age Ireland and explore the major themes and debates relating to Ireland during this period.

■ Foster critical awareness and deepen understanding of medieval Ireland through a creative synthesis of source-material.

■ Develop intellectual and analytical skills acquired during the first two years, whether in Celtic, Archaeology or History, and encourage the development of transferable skills by fostering individual initiatives, personal choice, and group discussion.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

■ Outline and identify important changes in the historical, political and social development of medieval Ireland

■ Critically assess current scholarly debates in relevant disciplines.

■ Formulate well-expressed written and oral arguments drawing on a variety of source material.