ar332 the development of the castle in medieval europe (option)

Module Summary

Thousands of castles of various forms can still be seen in the Irish landscape. They are really the principal visible reminder throughout Europe of the whole later medieval period. Castles were one of the major means by which medieval lords controlled society and land in the period from the eleventh century to c.1600. Their study tells us much about the way society was organised and administered during medieval times. Students will be introduced to current thinking on the development of castles and the basics of architectural dating will be taught. While the course will consider castles across Britain, Europe and the Crusader lands, the Irish evidence will be examined in detail. One particular theme will be the differences between the Gaelic-Irish and Anglo-Norman usage of fortifications during the late 12th, 13th and 14th centuries.

Core Texts

• Barry, T. B. 1987. The archaeology of medieval Ireland, London and New York.
• Boas, A. J. 1999. Crusader archaeology, London.
• Cairns, C. T. 1987 Irish tower-houses, a Co. Tipperary Case Study, Athlone.
• Creighton, O. 2002. Castle and landscapes. Continuum.
• Creighton, O. and Higham, R. 2003. Medieval Castles, Princes Risborough.
• Higham, R . & Barker, P. 1992. Timber Castles, London.
• Hingham, R. and Barker, P. 2000. Hen Domen Montgomery - a timber castle on the English / Welsh border, London.
• Johnson, M. 2002. Behind the castle gate, London and New York.
• Kennedy, H. 1994. Crusader castles, Cambridge.
• Kenyon, J. 1990. Medieval fortifications, Leicester and London.
• Kenyon, J. and O'Conor, K (eds) 2003. The castles of Ireland and Wales, Dublin.
• Kerrigan, P. 1995. Castles and fortifications in Ireland, Cork.
• King, D. C. 1998. The castle in England and Wales, London and Sydney.
• Leask, H.G. 1941. Irish Castles and Castellated Houses (1st ed.), Dundalk.
• Mc Neill, T. E. 1997. Castles In Ireland - Feudal Power In a Gaelic World, London and New York.
• Mc Neill, T. E. 1997. Castles in Ireland - feudal power in a Gaelic world, London and New York.
• O'Conor, K. D. 1998 The archaeology of medieval rural settlement in Ireland. Dublin.
• O'Keeffe, T. 2000. Medieval Ireland, an archaeology, Stroud.
• Pounds, N.J.G. 1990.  The Medieval Castle in England and Wales, Cambridge.
• Pringle, D. 1997. Secular buildings in the crusader kingdom of Jerusalem, Cambridge
• Sweetman, D. 1999.  Medieval Castles of Ireland, Cork.
• Wheatley, A. 2004. The idea of the castle, York.

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• Copyright
• Accessibility