Topic 1- Background to the ireland and the roman empire at the time of Patrick

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THEME 1

THE BACKROUND TO THE MISSION OF PATRICK AND THE ROMAN EMPIRE

 

 

CONTENTS

1)  SOCIAL AND POLITICAL MAKEUP

2)  POLITIAL BACKGROUND TO THE EMPIRE

3)   Historical sources for the existence of Christianity

4)   Arrival of Christianity before Patrick

5)   5 references to Palladius

By Rebecca Gorman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good

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Theme 1- the background to the mission of Patrick and the Roman Empire

Social and Political Make-up:

·         Celtic people-Population 500,00

·         Binchy’s classification: “tribal, rural, hierarchical and familiar” (i.e. family based)

·         Mostly pagan

·         Davies- “there was no aspect of life which was not in some way touched by the intricate webs of ritual and belief that gave meaning to the Celtic world”

Tribal

·         150 tuatha each with own king or “Ri”.

Kings

·          Chosen from the ruling “deirbfhine” and successors also decided.

·         King was a figurehead and had to be strong and morally superior.

·          Had to live in an appropriate manner to bring honour on his tribe to which he was effectively married.

·         Lead his people in war and could negotiate peace treaties but could not frame laws or act as judge.

·         Inauguration took place at the “feis” which involved mating ceremonies and other pagan ****** rites which Patrick found objectionable.

·         Confederations of tuatha could band together and elect an over-king. Ordinary kings paid tribute and received payment from the over-king.

Rural 

·         Mainly isolated farmsteads. Dense forestation made travel and 

Communication difficult. Populations were insular, distrustful of strangers

And warlike. Most common dwellings were raths, crannogs and larger constructions called duns or forts.

Hierarchical-

·         Rank was determined by birth and wealth and a person could rise or fall in status. At the top was the king then nobles, freemen and the unfree and unlanded. No-one had rights outside the tuath and travel was restricted. The learned class or Aes Dana could travel freely: among these were the druids. Byrne tells us that status was determined by honour price.

Familiar:

·          Families were responsible for the misdeeds of members. Blood feuds  

Common.  Women could not inherit land but could be granted a share in profits.

Pagan Worship

·         at the time of Patrick

Archaeological

·         And written evidence is scarce. Most information is based on continental practices.

·         Revealed ritualistic practices of pagan Celts such as curial sites = New grange

Sun Worship-

·          Sites like Newgrange are evidence of the importance of plotting the movements of the sun and probably other celestial bodies. (confession 60)

Death and Burial-

·         The Celts were superstitious about death and the afterlife but did not fear it. 

·         Festivals like

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