Ireland and the Normans

This series explores particular developments and issues in Ireland's history from earliest times to the 1990s. The books are the work of a team of authors from the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and England who have been advised by a committee of historians, teachers and inspectors from within these islands. The series aims to: enable pupils to explore particular developments and issues in Ireland's history from earliest times to the 1990s; help young people from within these islands acquire a knowledge and understanding of different perspectives on Irish history; encourage pupils, through their study of Ireland's past in its widest context, to develop an open-minded approach to current issues; present the study of history as a process of investigation, developing students' critical faculties, through a questioning approach to issues and information about the past. The books deal directly with controversial questions, identifying bias and challenging received points of view. They draw attention to issues in the past which have resonances today and aim to treat Ireland's history in the round, exploring the relevant British and European contexts.
Each book integrates background information with a range of source material, questions and issues for discussion. Books on earlier history have been written with the younger age groups in mind. Later titles contribute to courses followed by students of 14-16. This book looks at what Ireland was like before the arrival of the Normans, the extent of their impact on the way of life they found there and the developing relationship between Ireland and both Britain and Europe.