A study of medieval Celtic culture, its society, laws, religion, history, and the daily life of the Celtic peoples, as they are reflected in a selection of texts ranging from medieval literary works to legal texts and historical chronicles. All works will be read in English translation.

Using a range of sources from saints’ lives to chronicles, and legends to lawbooks, this class will introduce students to the rich and varied medieval cultures of Celtic-speaking peoples. Focusing on Wales and Ireland, we will explore such topics as the keeping of bees in medieval Ireland and the laws of the court in medieval Wales. Students will come away from this course with a better understanding not only of the social and legal structures of medieval Wales and Ireland and the histories of medieval Celtic peoples, but also of their languages, literatures and conceptions of themselves. Reading will include the following works, some of which may be available online. Further reading may be assigned in class. Charles-Edwards, T. and F. Kelly, eds., Bechbretha (Dublin, 1983) ISBN: 9780901282736 or 978 1 85500 209 8 Davies, S., trans., The Mabinogion (Oxford, 2008). ISBN-10: 0199218781, ISBN-13: 9780199218783 Koch, J., ed., and J. Carey, The Celtic Heroic Age: Literary Sources for Ancient Celtic Europe & Early Ireland & Wales, 4th ed., (Aberystwyth, 2003). ISBN: 1891271091 O’Meara, J. J., trans., The History and Topography of Ireland (London, 1982). ISBN-13: 978-0-140-44423-0 Thorpe, L., trans., The Journey Through Wales and The Description of Wales (London, 1978). ISBN-13: 978-0-14-044339-4

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills