Early & Medieval HIstory of the Celts

Course Description

The module is divided into two sections. Both sections must be taken to complete the module.

This module is given in its entirety within Semester 1. It is available both to students who are registered for Semester 1 only, and to students who are registered for the full year. A written examination is taken at the end of Semester 1.

SG111(A) Early and Medieval History of the Celts (A)
This section of SG111 will provide an introduction to some of the more important aspects of the archaeology of the Celtic world, dealing briefly with such topics as the discovery of the archaeology of the Celts in the nineteenth century and the material culture (weapons, personal ornaments and art) that came to be identified with the spread of Celtic-speaking peoples across Europe. Aspects of the Celtic archaeology of Britain and Ireland will also be examined. The module will then survey the linguistic background to the identification of the Celtic languages as a distinct group, locating them within their proper geographical and historical contexts as Celtic languages, and showing their relationship with, and distinctiveness within, the vast family of languages known as Indo-European, which historically includes languages spoken in the territory from the west of Europe to India (since modern times also into the lands of the New World). The lectures will also look at the way the ancient Celts were portrayed by the classical Greek and Roman authors who are our only source of information on the history of ancient Celtic Europe.

SG111(B) Early and Medieval History of the Celts (B)
In this section of SG111 lectures 1-8 will focus primarily on Ireland and Northern Britain, while lectures 9-12 will focus mainly on Wales. The topics addressed in lectures 1-8 will include: the insular Celtic migrations and settlements of the early medieval period (including the migrations from Britain to Brittany and from Ireland to Scotland, and the Irish settlements in Wales, and in Man); the christianisation of the
West (of Ireland, of western Scotland from Ireland, and of northern England from Scotland); and the impact of the Vikings.
The topics addressed in lectures 9-12 will include: Britain in the post-Roman period; the beginnings of ?Wales?; princes in place of kings in Welsh history; the later history of Wales.

Learning outcomes:
? Knowledge of the prehistory and ancient and medieval history of the Celts.
? Awareness of the types of source available for the study of the history and prehistory of the Celts.
? Awareness of the relationships and tensions between archaeological, linguistic and historical soucres.