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True OriginsContentsPrefaceIntroductionChapter OneChapter Two

Chapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter Eight

Chapter NineChapter TenChapter elevenChapter TwelveChapter ThirteenChapter Fourteen

Chapter FifteenChapter SixteenChapter SeventeenBibliography

[The True Origins of Irish Society Copyright © 2003 by Desmond Keenan
Hard copy of book available from Xlibris.com and Amazon.com]

Contents 

PREFACE

INTRODUCTION

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CHAPTER ONE

POPULATION AND SOCIETY

The Physical Environment

The Social Environment

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CHAPTER TWO

EARLY MAN

Glacial Epoch to 13000 BC

Post-glacial from 13000 BC

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CHAPTER THREE

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEOLITHIC CULTURE

Characteristics of the Neolithic Period

Origins of Farming in South West Asia

The spread of the Neolithic cultures to 5,000 BC

Peoples, Languages, and Social Structure

Early Neolithic Age in the British Isles

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CHAPTER FOUR

FULL FLOWERING OF NEOLITHIC SOCIETY

(3,500 BC TO 2,500 BC)

Developments

Beliefs

Organisation

Developed Neolithic Culture in Ireland

Megalith Builders

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CHAPTER FIVE

THE BRONZE AGE

Characteristics of the Bronze Age

The Bronze Age in the Middle East and Russia

Religion in the Middle East in Bronze Age

The Bronze Age in Europe

The Indo-European Speakers.

Bronze Age in Central Europe

Bronze Age in Britain and Ireland

Irish Society in the Bronze Age

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CHAPTER SIX

THE IRON AGE

Character of the Iron Age

Cultural Developments in the Iron Age.

Religion and Worship in the Iron Age

 Iron Age in Europe (750 BC to 400AD)

The Celts and the Celtic Language

British Society in the Iron Age

Agriculture and Economy

Iron Age in Ireland

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CHAPTER SEVEN

THE ROMAN PERIOD 100-400AD

The Roman Empire

Origin and Growth of Christianity

Monasticism

Christianity and the Slave Trade

Christianity in Britain

Ireland in the Roman Period 

Ptolemy’s Map

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CHAPTER EIGHT

CHRISTIAN PERIOD (400-800 AD)

Europe  

Britain

Social and Economic Conditions in England    

Social and Economic conditions in Ireland

The Social Stratification of Irish Society

The Structure of the Economy

The Farm

Livestock

Craftsmen

Travel and Trade

The Structure within the Tuath

The Grades of Tuatha

The Family and Kinship

The Five Provinces

Warfare

The Life of the People

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CHAPTER NINE

THE FIFTH CENTURY OR ‘PATRICIAN’ AGE

General Considerations

Names of the Tuatha

Patterns of Power

The Ui Neill in the Fifth Century

The Beginnings of Christianity

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CHAPTER TEN

 THE SIXTH CENTURY A

Political Situation

Chiefdom of Tara

Over-Chiefs of Tara

Chiefdoms of the North

Chiefdoms in the South and West.

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CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE SIXTH CENTURY

Development of the Church

Preaching

Growth of Literacy

Monasticism in Ireland

Monastic Founders

Distribution of Monasteries

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CHAPTER TWELVE

SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES

Western Europe

Life in the Seventh and Eight Centuries

Overchiefs of Tara

Religious Affairs

The Paschal Controversy

Cultural matters

The Eight Century Western Europe

Over-chiefs of Tara

The Other Provinces

The Monasteries

The Parish Clergy

Worship

The Hierarchy

Religious Art

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE DARK AGES 800-1000

800-900 General Political Situation

Europe

Britain

Over-chiefs of Tara

The Provinces

The Vikings

Economy and Society

The Church

900 to 1000 Europe

Britain    

Over-chiefs of Tara

The Provinces

The Vikings

Economy and Society

The Church

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN 

THE ELEVENTH CENTURY

General Character of the Romanesque Period 1000 to 1200AD

The Eleventh Century in Europe

Political Affairs in Britain

Ireland

Over-chiefs (of Tara)

The Provinces

The Church

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

THE TWELFTH CENTURY 1

IRISH SOCIETY

Church Affairs

Rathbreasail           

Saint Malachy

Visit to Rome

Synod of Kells

Implementing the Reforms

Military Matters

The Economy

Irish Society

Art, Architecture and Learning

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE TWELFTH CENTURY II-IRELAND AND THE CONTINENT

General Characteristics

Political Events in the Twelfth Century

Britain

Wales

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN THE TWELFTH CENTURY – NORMANS AND ANGEVINS

The Reigns of Henry and his Sons

'Over-chiefs of Tara'

Events in the rest of Ireland

Lords of Ireland

Background to the Coming of the Normans

The Coming of the Normans

The King’s Reaction

The First Years of Henry’s Lordship (1172 – 1176)

Political Changes after the Death of Strongbow 1176

John, Lord of Ireland

Events during the Reign of Richard 1189-99

John King of England and Lord of Ireland

 Postscript

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Copyright Desmond J. Keenan, B.S.Sc.; Ph.D. ;.London, U.K.