This discussion features Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, an expert in Irish history and author of "Making Empire." She delves into the impact of the Tudor Conquest on Gaelic society, detailing how Henry VIII's declaration of Irish subjects and Elizabeth I's plantations fundamentally reshaped Ireland. The conversation touches on the socio-political dynamics of colonization, the role of Irish women in cultural resistance, and significant figures like Hugh O'Neill who challenged English rule, illustrating the complex legacy of Tudor imperialism.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Durimple's Childhood Introduction to Irish History
William Durimple's childhood exposure to Irish history involved tales of the potato famine and its horrific consequences.
This early experience sparked a lifelong interest in understanding the complexities of Irish history.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Anand's Research: Ireland and Indian Nationalism
Anita Anand's interest in Ireland stemmed from her research on Indian nationalism, where Irish figures played significant roles.
She highlights the complex relationship between Irish and Indian nationalism, citing examples like Irishmen involved in the Amritsar massacre and Irish nationalists admiring Indian revolutionaries.
insights INSIGHT
English Perceptions of Gaelicization
The English viewed the Gaelicization of Norman settlers in Ireland as "degeneration" and "going native."
They attempted to Anglicize Ireland through laws like the Statutes of Kilkenny (1366), banning Irish language, customs, and intermarriage.
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Written in 1596, this pamphlet is a dialogue between two Englishmen, Eudoxus and Irenaeus, discussing the state of Ireland during the Tudor conquest. Spenser argues for the use of scorched earth tactics and criticizes Irish culture, religion, and legal systems. The text is divided into three parts, focusing on the need for reform in laws, culture, and religion, and proposes radical military solutions to subdue Irish resistance. It was never published during Spenser's lifetime but was posthumously published by James Ware in 1633.
Topographica Hibernica
Topographica Hibernica
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Making Empire
Ireland, Imperialism, and the Early Modern World
Jane Ohlmeyer
This book re-examines empire as a process and Ireland's role within it through the lens of early modernity. It explores how Ireland formed an integral part of the English imperial system, how the Irish operated as agents of empire, and how Ireland served as a laboratory for imperial practices. The book also delves into the impact of empire on people living in early modern Ireland and highlights the iterative and durable process of colonization and its varied effects on different parts of Ireland.
Ireland is the only country in Western Europe that has experienced being colonised in the modern era. It was used by England as a laboratory for imperialism, and was the site of bloody colonial wars for centuries, yet many people in the neighbouring United Kingdom have little understanding of Ireland’s history.
The new series on Ireland & Empire begins with the Tudor Conquest. By the 1500s, there were small pockets of English imperialism in Ireland via descendants of the Anglo-Norman invasions of the 1190s, but they were concentrated along the southeastern coast. However, when Henry VIII launched the Protestant Reformation in England, establishing control over Ireland suddenly became a top priority. In 1541, he declared all Irish people as his subjects. He built upon previous laws banning Irish language and customs, and created a militarised society. And by Elizabeth I’s reign, the Tudors introduced plantations in Ireland which granted land to English and Scottish settlers.
Listen as Anita and William are joined by Professor Jane Ohlmeyer at Jaipur Literature Festival to discuss how Tudor colonialism paved the way for the overhaul of Gaelic society in Ireland.
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