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NTRODUCTION
Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia
presents the multiple facets of life in Ireland before and after the Anglo-
Norman invasion of 1169, from the sixth to the sixteenth century. It provides reliable, scholarly information for
the student, scholar, or general reader who wishes to learn more about this vivid period of history. The medieval
period in Ireland was rich in culture, and
Medieval Ireland
provides information on such facets as architecture,
art, craftsmanship, language, mythology, and religion. Further, many public figures of this time period in Ireland—
ranging from kings to saints to poets—are portrayed throughout the text. The common life of the medieval Irish
is covered in such topics as agriculture, coinage, law, clothing, villages, and games. Giving context to these
subjects are the many outside influences that affected Irish civilization at this time. The Viking and Anglo-Norman
invasions are discussed, as are the literary and cultural influences of many European countries. Thus the work
is useful to people studying related topics, including Anglo-Saxon England, Carolingian Gaul, Norman England,
and Viking-Age Scandinavia.
The fact that this reference work is dedicated solely to medieval Ireland—not prehistory and not contemporary
affairs—gives it a value missing from other more chronologically broad-ranging works. If one is interested in just
the medieval period, this volume is tailor-made. This encyclopedia is not just a history book, but as far as practicable
it reaches beyond history to all recoverable areas of medieval Irish society. By confining the content to the thousand
or so years that make up medieval Ireland, and exploring all aspects of that time, we have produced a unique
volume. The major areas of knowledge on the subject of medieval Ireland are accessible within the covers of this
book, as either separate essays or discussed within a broader context in another essay.
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia
is arranged in an easy-to-use A to Z reference format that contains a series
of 347 essays. The essays fall into two categories—biographies and thematic entries—and range from 250 to
2,500 words in length. Each essay provides an analysis of the topic at hand as well as directing the reader to
explore the topic more thoroughly through
See Also
cross-references and a list of
References and Further
Reading
. The ease of use is enhanced by a
thematic Table of Contents
at the beginning of the book, in addition
to the standard
alphabetical Table of Contents
. Other features of the book include
illustrations
and
maps
that
visually support the text. Readers will also find that the
Blind Entries
will lead them to articles that discuss a
subject that is not covered as a separate entry but is essential to the study of medieval Ireland. Finally, the book
contains a
detailed, analytical Index
that also helps the reader further navigate the work.
CONTENTS
More than 100 scholars have provided in-depth essays to
Medieval Ireland: An
Encyclopedia
. The essays encom-
pass all aspects of Irish society and culture throughout the one thousand or so years that make up medieval Ireland.
The entries are categorized thematically, displaying the breadth of coverage dedicated to this important historical
epoch in Irish history.