Back to the Start

This volume is part of a series which explores 12 key developments in the history of Ireland from the earliest times to 1990. The first volumes have been written for 11 year-olds and the series is then graded so that the final books on 20th-century topics contribute to courses followed by students of 14-16. This volume explores Ireland from the time of its first peoples to the eighth century. The approach is investigative, beginning with the established Celtic society, from there exploring the development of Christianity and kingship in the light of archaeology, folk tales and the development of language and writing. The book considers the island during the years when the Romans dominated Britain and before, when settlers from Europe each brought to it a distinctive culture. It concludes with a number of challenging questions: Who were the Irish by the eighth century, who are the Irish today and does any one group of people own all or part of the island? The books in the series are written in short units, each introduced with a summary of the key issues which are taken up again in end-of-unit activities.
Each unit includes source material coupled with questions and activities, and the British and European context is stressed wherever relevant.