The Norman Invasion and the Gaelic Recovery - The pattern of colonization

5 important questions on The Norman Invasion and the Gaelic Recovery - The pattern of colonization

With what type of fortifications did the  the Normans defend their acquisitions? (Name two and briefly describe them) and give two examples. Where were these fortifications often built?

  • mottess, high earthen mounds topped by a wooden tower.
  • with ringwork castles such as the ones by de Lacy at Trim and Courcy at Down Patrick, consisting of a circular bank surrounded by a strong wooden palisade and gate tower. These were often near population centres that had economic potential.

The purpose of English involvement in Ireland began to change from acquiring Lordship over men to colonization, how was this done?

Once the land was sufficiently secure the lords
  • set aside large areas to be farmed directly by their labourers
  • Many set aside larger areas to found a borough town to sell agriculture surplus Anglo- Norman town were set out in grid of intersecting lines
  • Imported tenants from England, Wales and Flanders not only knights but hereditary free tenants, burgesses, artisans, peasant farmers, cottiers and gavillers

What treatment distinguished the colonists form the Irish? And was the situation under the Norman rulers much different for the Irish serfs?

All colonists, no mater how humble, were considered free, while the native Irish were considered serfs and were bond to the soil. For some of the Irish who were surfs prior to the Norman Invasion there would have been little change, but it is likely that many of the poorer Irish freeholders became serfs.
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Irish Chiefs within the lordships were restricted to what type of areas? And what was the nature of their tenancy?

Uncolonized districts- Woods, bogs and uplands.
They didn't enjoy hereditary tenure, but were tenants at will, paying annual rents to their overlord and joining his host when he was summoned to war.

What changes took hold in the east of Ireland's lowlands from Coleraine to cork? (5 points 2 regarding language, 2 regarding building, 1 economic change)

  • English language took route in peasantry and in towns.
  • Norman-French became established as a literary language among the  upper classes.
  • In Dublin buildings changed from wattle work building of the Norse to heavier timber framed buildings and stone.
  • Churches and Cathedrals were build in the Early English Gothic style instead of Irish Romanesque.
  • The economy changed from a subsistence one to a market economy , following the introduction of English style crop rotation

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