jjares reviewed Irish History: A Captivating Guide to the History of Ireland on + 3263 more book reviews
Before reading this, I had no idea the Irish were invaded by so many groups: Celts, Vikings, Danish, Romans, Normans, Napoleon, the Spanish, and English monarchies. It was also shocking to see how much misery was in the country, with a north European famine that started in 1315 and lasted for years, plus the Black Death came later. Of course, this was generations before the Potato Famine between 1845-52.
As is their habit, Captivating History started in the dim mists of earliest times and moved forward to more recent history. Prior to reading this, I was unaware that Oliver Cromwell and his troops went to Ireland. He ravaged the country and abolished Catholicism as an acceptable religion. He turned citizens against their neighbors. Cromwell executed priests and paid rewards for info about those who continued to profess Catholicism.
I was stunned to read that in 1641, Catholics owned three-fifths of the total Irish agricultural lands. By the late 1660s, they owned only one-fifth of the land. Some of this history was difficult to read; the Irish Catholics were ruled by English Protestants who seemed to make sure the Irish stayed in their second-class status. By the 1770s, Irish Catholics were 75% of the population but only 5 % of the landowners. The only people who could vote were landowners, so elections were perfunctory. Since the English overlords lived in England, the Iris starved because the income was sent to England.
Interestingly enough, as the American Revolution continued, England realized they needed the Irish, who were rumbling about freedom. So the British repealed many acts that gave the Irish more freedoms. However, they were still controlled by British politics. When the Irish National Land League was formed they got concessions due to something new, called a boycott (it came from an Irish land agent Captain Charles Boycott).
England has much to answer for in controlling and keeping another country in servitude. This is an appalling history lesson that the British should not be proud of. Frankly, all this just proves that religion is the cause of most of the troubles of the world. This is probably the most depressing history I've ever read. I can't understand why anyone stayed in Ireland -- either part.
As is their habit, Captivating History started in the dim mists of earliest times and moved forward to more recent history. Prior to reading this, I was unaware that Oliver Cromwell and his troops went to Ireland. He ravaged the country and abolished Catholicism as an acceptable religion. He turned citizens against their neighbors. Cromwell executed priests and paid rewards for info about those who continued to profess Catholicism.
I was stunned to read that in 1641, Catholics owned three-fifths of the total Irish agricultural lands. By the late 1660s, they owned only one-fifth of the land. Some of this history was difficult to read; the Irish Catholics were ruled by English Protestants who seemed to make sure the Irish stayed in their second-class status. By the 1770s, Irish Catholics were 75% of the population but only 5 % of the landowners. The only people who could vote were landowners, so elections were perfunctory. Since the English overlords lived in England, the Iris starved because the income was sent to England.
Interestingly enough, as the American Revolution continued, England realized they needed the Irish, who were rumbling about freedom. So the British repealed many acts that gave the Irish more freedoms. However, they were still controlled by British politics. When the Irish National Land League was formed they got concessions due to something new, called a boycott (it came from an Irish land agent Captain Charles Boycott).
England has much to answer for in controlling and keeping another country in servitude. This is an appalling history lesson that the British should not be proud of. Frankly, all this just proves that religion is the cause of most of the troubles of the world. This is probably the most depressing history I've ever read. I can't understand why anyone stayed in Ireland -- either part.
