Jennifer Johnson
Written evidence from ancient Ireland does not exist due to the fact that prior to the introduction of Christianity a written language did not exist in Ireland. Some historians attribute the absence of writting to Druid resistance. As important advisors to the king of tribes (tuaths) and leaders of various cults, in which oral tradition was used to pass on their lore and to keep their lore from outsiders, Druids had an influential role in Celtic society. Perhaps the Druids feared that writing would produce leaks to outsiders. Oral tradition remained prevalent in Celtic society and kept alive the myths and legends long enough for the monks of the sixth century to write them down. These legends, when compared to archeological evidence, have been useful in revealing information about ancient and prehistoric Ireland.
Archeological evidence from the excavations of houses, rubbish piles and burial tombs has provided clues to ancient Irish tradition and daily life. Remains of buildings, tools, pottery and jewelry gathered from sites have allowed historians to know more about the level of social advancement and trade the Celts of Ireland had with other populations.
Documentary evidence becomes more complete in the seventh and eighth centuries with the law-tract. These written documents tell much about law regarding marriage, position of women, fosterage of children, methods for recovering damages and degrees of relationship within family and society. For example, historians know that women could not inherit land, but daughters might acquire a life interest in their fathers’ land if they had no brothers. Law-tracts also included definitions of relationships of five generations of male contingencies within a family.
The Romans believed that Ireland (Hibernia) was
positioned between Spain and Britain. Its close proximity to
Roman Britain led Agricola, governor of Britain, to consider
invading Hibernia. Agricola thought that he could better handle
Britain if it were confronted by Rome on both the eastern and
western coasts.
In the second century the Greek Ptolemy drew the first map of Ireland. The Greeks, like the Romans, considered Ireland to be the westernmost outpost of the world and were also aware of Ireland’s small trading .
Around 6000 BC people from Scandinavia came to Ireland . They had originally entered Britain and later crossed into Ireland. These people were Mesolithic hunters. Much about what is know about this first population of Ireland has come from excavated rubbish heaps located along the coasts.
The second population was Neolithic and cleared land for farming, tamed animals, spun wool for clothing, and used metals for tools. These people also exported bronze and gold in their trading with the Baltic and Near East. This second population that reached Ireland around 3000BC resulted from the population and agricultural expansion of the Middle East . People were forced into Europe, Ireland, and Britain in search for farm land. Land would be farmed until it lost its productivity and then it would be abandoned and the search would resume.
The Celts, who during the fourth century BC were the dominant group in Europe and responsible for sacking Rome in 385, first entered Ireland around 350 BC . However the Celtic culture (La Tène) did not become dominant in Ireland until about 200 BC. The Celtic culture in Ireland (like that of the Gauls) was warrior-based but included agriculture and trading along the coasts. The Celts were known for rushing at their enemies naked with the exception of sandals and a golden collar (torque) around their necks. They also used chariots in battle. This time in Irish history is referred to as the Heroic Age of Ireland. The poems and legends written down in the sixth century are the stories, preserved through oral tradition, about the great warrior ruling class of this age. By the end of the Heroic Age the people had become completely Celticised ; they spoke a common language and shared a common culture. This time is also marked by the introduction of Christianity early in the fifth century and the settling down of society into an agricultural-based country.
Degree of RomanizationBecause Rome never occupied Ireland, Roman influence was limited to the contact that Ireland had with Roman Britain and other Roman states. St. Patrick, author of the first document known to have been written in Ireland, was a native of Roman Britain who was captured by Celtic raiders from Ireland . He spent six years as a slave for an Irish king , during which became close to God. After his escape he returned to Britain and later received ecclesiastical training, probably in Gaul. He then returned to Ireland in 432 or 456 ( the exact dates are not known for certain) and began missionary work. Patrick alone is said to have baptized thousands and ordained clerks everywhere, and most churches in Ireland later claimed him as their founder. Patrick introduced into Ireland the Episcopal system of church government of Roman Britain and Gaul, as well as the monastic life that became the most honored position within the church after the saint’s death in either 461 or 490. Prior to St. Patrick, trade with Gaul and Roman Britain had brought Christians to Ireland. By 431 there were enough Christians in Ireland to justify the appointment of a bishop for them by Rome . The presence of Christians prior to St. Patrick most likely affected the acceptance of Christianity in Ireland . The Christians who took refuge in Ireland tended to be scholars and helped to establish Ireland’s monastic life.
Contact with Roman Britain may have also influenced Ireland’s early road systems and construction. The early roads were wide and paved and were of importance for military reasons. The roads were wide and well enough constructed to support the movement of soldiers about the country. The road system was also partly responsible for the later, comparatively efficient, Norman invasion.
Foreign trade was for the most part unorganized before the Vikings arrival in Ireland . However from the first century after Christ there are references of Irish merchants traveling great distances to great fairs to exchange hides and cloth for wine, spices, and cloth of gold . Towns also did not appear until after the Viking and Norman invasions. Inhabitants of Ireland lived in small communities with strong cultural traditions. The Druids , and later lawyers and poets, were the inheritors of oral tradition. After the introduction of Christianity, and just before the Norse invasions, life of the Irish changed. The formerly warrior culture became agricultural and a written culture replaced the oral tradition.
Monasteries cultivated this new written culture by copying manuscripts of the late Roman Empire. In no more than a century the monks of the monasteries had become scribal scholars. Literature in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew was borrowed, mastered and translated . Today many of these works are prized in libraries in France, England, Switzerland, Germany , Sweden , Ireland, and Italy. One such text, the Book of Kells, is currently on display at Trinity College in Ireland.
Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization. New York: Talese, 1995.
This book begins with the fall of Roman civilization and discusses St. Peter and the work of the Irish monks in detail. the book also includes information on some archaeological evidence of ancient Irish culture.
Edwards, Ruth Dudley. An Atlas of Irish History. London and New York: Methuen, 1981.
This book discusses the development of the Irish people in a cartographic format. The maps in this report are based on Edwards' maps.
Howlett . "A Modest Proposal for Education in Ireland." Dictionary of Medieval Latin. Oxford. [Internet] Accessed 6-11-96 at http://www.ucd.ie/~classics/ClassicsIreland.html.
This article contains useful information regarding the Latin influence in Ireland prior to the fall of Rome.
Lehane, Brendan. The Quest of Three Abbots. New York: Viking Press, 1968.
The topics in this book include : Ireland before the fall of Rome and Ireland’s role in preserving Christianity.
Martin, F. X , and T. W. Moody, eds. The Course of Irish History. New York: Weybright and Talley, 1967.
This book includes information on prehistoric Ireland and discusses early Irish society. It also includes a section on a geographer’s view on Irish history.
O’Curry, Eugene. On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish. Vol. 1.New York: Lemma, 1971.
This is a collection of lectures concerning foreign relations, language, ethnology, culture and politics of the civilization of Erinn in Ancient Ireland.
O’Curry, Eugene. On the Manners and Customs of the Ancient Irish. Vol 2. New York: Lemma, 1971.
This volume is a collection of lectures that focus on the aspects of legislation, education, druids, weapons and warfare within the ancient Irish civilization of Erinn.
Tacitus. The Agricola and the Germania. S.A. Handford reviser, New York: Penguin, 1970
Tacitus discusses the geographic position of Irelandand its potential usefulness in helping the Romans maintain Britain.
