Ireland, Scotland and Wales, <span class='italic'>c.</span> 700 to the early eleventh century

doi:10.1017/CHOL9780521362924.004

(b) - Ireland, Scotland and Wales, c. 700 to the early eleventh century

from 2 - The British Isles

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 March 2008

Donnchadh Corráin

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Rosamond McKitterick

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Rosamond McKitterick: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge

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Summary

ireland, Scotland and Wales were all Celtic countries, but their respective medieval populations did not know this and their Celticity (however one may define it) is not the reason for grouping them together (Map 2). They did share certain terms, including elements of a legal vocabulary, that point to common institutions in earlier times but one cannot posit a genetic relationship in any real sense. They were different societies, in close geographical contact, that had experiences in common, but reacted diversely. The first of these experiences was the Roman presence: Wales and part of Scotland were within the empire, Ireland and northern Scotland without, but profoundly influenced by it. The insular lands beyond the limes were heavily Romanised in material culture and their politico-military organisation was a reaction to Rome, in splendour and decline. Latin Christianity bound them together and set up close cultural contact between them. Their second shared experience lay in a twofold interaction with the expansionist Germanic world: first the Vikings, second the Anglo-Saxons. What began as Viking raiding opened the way to trade, settlement and urbanisation in varying degrees, tilted centres of power and influence towards the Irish Sea, and shaped the political development of all three. Finally, all experienced English aggression as a decisive force in their history – Wales, Scotland and Ireland in that order – throughout the middle ages.

Keywords

commercial urbanism Dál Riata Britons of Strathclyde Ireland Scotland Wales Picts

Type: Chapter
Information: The New Cambridge Medieval History , pp. 43 - 63

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CHOL9780521362924.004 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 1995

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(b) - Ireland, Scotland and Wales, c. 700 to the early eleventh century

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