Irish history has traditionally been described either in isolation or in the manner in which it was influenced by outside forces, especially by England. This book strikes a different balance. First, the time span covered is longer and more attention is paid to the early medieval period. Secondly, less emphasis is placed on political and military history than on general social and cultural aspects. As a result, a new interpretation of medieval Ireland emerges - one in which social and cultural norms inherent from pre-historic times in Ireland are seen to survive right through the Middle ages.