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100
Stone Age 6000BC
https://vimeo.com/21927963The Stone Age was the oldest period following the ice age, and lasted for about 2.5 million years. The Stone Age was characterized by the use of stone and bone tools and implements. The use of metal was almost unknown during this era. With the passage of time, people became more skilled, and the stone implements became progressively refined. Overall the Stone Age was an age of social learning. Agriculture, pottery, carving, hunting, and communal living were skills acquired during this age. -
200
First Farmers (3700BC)
http://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/publications/nms-farmers-journal-01.pdfFarming began in Ireland with the domestication of goats, sheep, cattle and pigs, and with the cultivation of a primitive form of wheat and barley. It is thought that this revolution was pioneered by some travellers to our shores, and that these ideas proved so productive that they were adopted by their predecessors. The first farmers cleared forests of dense oak and elm to plant crops and enable their animals to graze. -
300
Bronze Age (2000BC)
The Bronze Age in Ireland started around 2500BC and continued until about 500BC. This is when our ancestors learned to make and use bronze which meant much stronger weapons and tools. They also started making jewellery out of gold, and built stone rows and stone circles that can still be seen around the country. -
400
The Romans 753 BC
Rome was founded in 753BC by its first king, Romulus. It grew into a rich and powerful city during the next few hundred years. By AD 117 the Roman Empire included the whole of Italy, all the lands around the Mediterranean and much of Europe, including England, Wales and parts of Scotland. Roman legend says that Romulus had a twin brother called Remus. As babies they were abandoned in the area which later became Rome. A wolf found and raised them, but when they grew up, Romulus fought and killed -
Jan 1, 1169
The Normans
When the Normans invaded England in 1066 AD, it lead to a great change in Irish society. The change was only gradual because only a small number of Norman knights came from Wales to Ireland to begin with. The Norman invasions of Ireland began in 1169 AD. The Earl of Pembroke, became involved in Irish affairs in the Kingdom of Leinster. The Normans won these invasions because they had superior weapons. The English King, Henry II didn't support the Earl because he was too powerful in Ireland. -
Jan 1, 1556
The Plantations
In the 16-century the English were seeking to extend their control over Ireland. One of the ways they tried to do this was to drive the Irish landowners off their land and replace them with English or Scottish settlers. Between the 1550’s and the 1650’s Four Plantations took place in Ireland. The Four Plantations were: The Plantation of Laois and Offaly 1556 AD, The Plantation of Munster 1586 AD, The Plantation of Ulster 1609 AD and the Cromwellian Plantation 1652 AD. -
The Penal Laws
The "Penal Laws" is a code of laws passed by the Protestant Parliament of Ireland which reigned in Ireland through most of the eighteenth century. These laws are key to understanding the history of the period as well as the sectarian conflicts that still plague Northern Ireland. The purpose of the Penal Laws, was to deprive the native majority of all power, both political and economic. The Protestants wanted to convert the Catholics to Protestantism. -
The Famine
The Great Famine began in 1845 and lasted for almost six years. The potato famine killed over a million men, women and children in Ireland. Another one million people also fled the country to Britain and America. The Famine began in September 1845 as leaves on potato plants suddenly turned black and curled, then rotted. The cause was actually an airborne fungus which was originally transported in the holds of ships traveling from North America to England. -
The Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was a rebellion against British rule in Ireland. The Irish fought for the freedom of their country. The rebellion took place in the capital city, Dublin. It began on April 24, 1916, which was the day after Easter that year. It lasted five days in total. At the end of the rising the rebels were beaten. -
Vikings in Ireland
From 795 AD, the Vikings attacked Ireland, England and mainland Europe. The caused destruction everywhere they went. Most of the Irish didn't like the Vikings presence. Brian Boru was the Ruler of Munster and he became High King of Ireland in 1002 AD. He fought against the Vikings and deafed them. Ireland was under his control for a short period of time but he later dies in 1014 AD at the Battle of Clontarf.
