Medieval History
1066–1485 — Castles, knights, and the making of the modern world
The Middle Ages
The medieval period was a time of castles, crusades, plague, and profound change. It was an era that shaped the languages, laws, and landscapes of Britain and Ireland in ways we still live with today.
For Ireland, the medieval period brought the Anglo-Norman invasion of 1169, the building of hundreds of castles, the growth of walled towns, and centuries of tension between Gaelic Irish lords and English colonial power.
Key moments of the medieval period
1066–1200 — Norman conquest
1066–1200
William the Conqueror defeats King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The Normans transform England — and later Ireland — building castles, introducing feudalism, and replacing the Anglo-Saxon nobility. The Domesday Book of 1086 surveys the entire kingdom.
1200–1350 — High Middle Ages
1200–1350
The Crusades draw knights from across Europe to the Holy Land. Magna Carta is signed in 1215, limiting royal power. Great cathedrals rise across Britain and Ireland. Trade grows, towns expand, and the first universities are founded at Oxford and Cambridge.
1347–1485 — Crisis and change
1347–1485
The Black Death arrives in 1347, killing up to half the population of Europe. Labour shortages transform the feudal system. The Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses reshape English power. The medieval period ends with the Tudor dynasty and the dawn of the Renaissance.
What we explore
Each topic is designed to spark curiosity and discussion in the classroom or during a school visit.
Castles and fortifications
Why were castles built, and how did they work? Children can explore the development of castle design from motte-and-bailey to stone keeps, discuss siege warfare, and examine the role of castles in controlling the landscape and population.
Knights, warriors and Gallowglass
The knight was the elite warrior of the medieval world. Children can examine replica armour and weapons, and learn about the elite warrior group called Gallowglass who dominated the battlefields of Ireland.
The Black Death
The bubonic plague of 1347–1353 killed up to half of Europe's population. Children can explore how the disease spread, how people tried to explain and treat it, and how the catastrophic death toll changed medieval society forever.
Feudalism and daily life
Medieval society was organised in a strict hierarchy — king, lords, knights, and peasants. Children can explore what daily life looked like at each level of the feudal system, from the great hall of a castle to the strip fields of a village.
The Church in medieval life
The Anglo-Norman invasion saw the first widespread use of coinage in Ireland. Previously, only Vikings had minted coins in Ireland with bartering and trade in silver ingots still common. Pupils can handle real hammered coins found in Ireland and learn about how they were made.
The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland
In 1169, Anglo-Norman knights arrived in Ireland at the invitation of the deposed King of Leinster. Children can explore how this changed Ireland — the castles built, the towns founded, and the centuries of conflict that followed.
Artefacts we can show you
Holding History has a collection of replica and original medieval artefacts available for school visits and educational talks. From chainmail to coinage, these objects make the Middle Ages tangible.
Armour and weapons
Replica chainmail, helmets, swords, and shields from the Norman and later medieval periods
Coins and trade
Real medieval coins and a demonstration of how coins were made
Everyday objects
Replica medieval tools, pottery, and domestic items reflecting life at all levels of society
Book a school talk
Bring the Middle Ages to life in your classroom. Get in touch to discuss a visit, artefact loan, or a tailored talk for your year group.