Course Co-ordinator: Dr A O'Leary

Pre-requisite(s): None.

Note(s): The course may not be included as part of a graduating curriculum with its counterpart in the other Honours year.

The course will begin with a study of the pre-Christian religion of the Celts; how it was described by classical authors, and how this squares with the archaeological evidence. We will also be exploring portrayals of the pagan past in Celtic medieval literature, including portrayals of druids and reference to mythological characters. The course will then move forwards chronologically to an evaluation of the processes of Christian conversion and to an analysis of the ideological and institutional changes it involved. Evidence for the continuity of pagan practices will be explored. We will look at the struggle to define and practice spiritual purity, definitions of and attitudes to heresy, artistic and literary achievements of the Church, and the development of saints' cults. The course will end with an analysis of the reforms of the twelfth century, evaluating the response of Celtic-speaking peoples to the ecclesiastically inspired drive for uniformity in social and religious practices throughout Western Christendom.

1 one-hour lecture, 1 one-hour tutorial and 1 one-hour seminar, per week.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%), one essay 2,000 words (30%) and seminar assessment mark (10%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (100%).