Aims & Learning Outcomes

• To help pupils consider some of the major political, social, economic and religious changes that shaped the history of Ireland from the end of the 16th to the end of the 17th century, within a British and European context.

• To give pupils a broad outline of the key issues, significant features and changes over the period, including:
  the causes of European rivalries and conflict in the late 16th century:
  (a) the impact of religious change
  (b) Anglo-Spanish rivalry
  (c) overseas expansion and colonisation;

• Crown and Parliament: key issues in the conflict between Stuart Kings and Parliament;

• Ireland c1600 – c1700:
  (a) conquest and plantation
  (b) rebellion, war and changes in land ownership.

• To support students undertaking short case studies involving the use of evidence and, where appropriate, a range of perspectives and interpretations to consider:
  (a) continuity and change in aspects of society over the period, eg monarchy, religion, trade and expansion;
  (b) causes and short- and long-term impact of a key event, eg the Reformation, the Armada, the Plantation of Ulster, the 1641 Rebellion, the English Civil War, Cromwell, the Williamite campaign, the Penal Laws;
  (c) experiences, motives, role and impact of a key personality or group, eg Elizabeth and Philip, Mary Queen of Scots, Hugh O’Neill , James II, William of Orange.