Courses By Seminar

An introduction to the main events of American history from the beginnings of English colonisation in the early seventeenth century to the present, this lecture-only module is divided chronologically in two parts. Among topics covered are the colonial period; the establishment of American independence; the US constitution; slavery; the Civil War; and industrialisation, urbanisation, and…

This two-part course is comprised of two eight-lecture modules, which can be taken separately in each academic term or together to form a year-long programme. Section 1 is World Religions and Theological Frameworks, and this module examines the disciplines of religion and theology from historical and contemporary perspectives. Section 2 is Conflict, Reconciliation and Peace: Past, Present…

The reign of King (later Emperor) Charlemagne (768-814 AD) marked a flourishing of the visual arts that had not been seen since the fall of the Roman Empire. Often styled the ‘Carolingian Renaissance’, the artistic culture of the period was characterised by a politically-motivated evocation of the classical past, fused with elements of existing art…

Climate history is a rapidly evolving field of study that aims to: firstly reconstruct climate conditions over past centuries and millennia; and secondly understand how societies perceived and responded to changing climates and extreme weather. These aims can be best achieved by combining evidence from natural and human archives. In this module we will examine…

Presented by Aubrey Gowing & James Waslaski Join world class educators, Aubrey Gowing & James Waslaski for an unforgettable three days Corrective Manual Therapy and Orthopedic Massage. Aubrey and James have been collaborating on in-person and online training programs for almost 15 years and this seminar will focus on two of their most important…

This module, led by Dr Rachel Moss, presents a thematic overview of the global intersections and relationships of Western visual and material culture across a range of historically located examples. Topics are explored in this module under the broad themes of knowledge and discovery and empire building. Through these lenses lectures will explore topics as…

This part of the Cultural Intersections in the History of Art course examines the influence of different global cultures on the history of Western art from the medieval period to the twentieth century. Organised thematically, Dr Rachel Moss will consider how different factors such as religious conversion, trade and the age of discovery on artistic…

This module deals with what has traditionally been known as Ireland’s ‘Golden Age’. Having begun with a brief introduction to prehistoric Ireland, it covers in more detail the period from the arrival of Christianity in the fifth century to the eve of the first Viking attacks at the end of the eighth. The focus is…

This module explores the political and cultural history of Europe during the early modern period. It analyses the efforts of reformers to revive their churches and societies during the sixteenth century. It then examines the legacy of these reform movements and considers how cultural divisions, as well as competition for power, led to prolonged periods…

“The story is no longer about the things that have happened to women and men and how they have reacted to them; instead it is about how the subjective and collective meanings of women and men as categories of identity have been constructed.” (Joan Scott, Gender and the Politics of History, New York, 1988, p.6). This…

What is myth? How do myths deal with fundamental human concerns about who we are and the world we live in? In this module, Dr. Suzanne O’Neill is an introduction to the major myths of the classical world using a range of primary source material: literary, artistic and archaeological. It explores the functions of myth…

What is myth? How do myths deal with fundamental human concerns about who we are and the world we live in? What is the relationship between myth and religion? Why did the Greeks and Romans worship many gods, believe in oracles, or perform animal sacrifice? This lecture-only module is an introduction to the major myths…

Global integration is not only a fact of modern life, but modern history writing. The interconnectedness of societies and states, and the powers forcing social, cultural and economic interaction have prompted significant scholarly assessment. This lecture-only module investigates some of the events and processes which have led to a more integrated world order between the…

This lecture-only module offers a survey of Western architecture from around 1520. It provides an introduction to the critical analysis of building types. The module considers such matters as issues of style, the functions architecture, as well as the range of technical methods employed by architects in the context of influential factors such as historical…

This lecture-only module offers a survey of Western painting and sculpture from around 1520. It provides an introduction to the critical analysis of artworks and considers matters such as the iconography of major religious and mythological subjects, issues of style, the functions of works of art and architecture, as well as the range of technical…

This module offers an introductory survey of the development and major artistic and artistic achievements of Greek architecture, sculpture and painting from the Greek Bronze Age to the Hellenistic period. The module, led by Dr Giorgos Papantoniou, places art and architecture in its social, political and cultural context. It explores themes such as the representation…

This course, led by Dr. Shane Wallace, provides an introductory survey of the history of the Greek world, from the Greek Archaic age to the Hellenistic period. The main trends and issues of this period will be explored through themes such as colonisation, imperialism, war, the Athenian invention of democracy, and the rise of Alexander.…

This lecture-only module is an introductory survey of the development and major artistic and technical achievements of Roman architecture, sculpture and painting. The course, led by Dr Giorgos Papantoniou, places art and architecture in its social, political and cultural context. It explores themes such as the representation of the human form, the use of narrative and mythology…

This lecture-only module, led by Dr Rebecca Usherwood, provides an introductory survey of the history of the Greek and Roman world, from the Greek Archaic age (around 700 BC) to the death of Augustus in 14 AD. The main trends and issues of this period will be explored including colonisation, imperialism, war, the Athenian invention…

his module offers a survey of architecture up to the end of seventeenth century, with a focus primarily, although not exclusively, on the Western world. It introduces the critical analysis of buildings and the spaces that they occupy considering issues of style, function and technical innovation. Architecture is considered in the context of influential factors…

This module offers a survey of art up to the end of seventeenth century, with a focus primarily, although not exclusively, on the Western world. It provides an introduction to the critical analysis of artworks, including painting, mosaic, fine metalwork, manuscripts, and sculpture. The module considers such matters as the iconography of major religious and…

This module examines political, social and cultural developments in Ireland during the early modern period within a narrative and thematic framework, starting with Tudor political reform and continuing through to the Act of Union in 1800. The principal issues dealt with include the impact of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation; the wars/rebellions of the sixteenth century…

This module considers objects and places from the medieval world that have accumulated multiple meanings over time. Challenging the narrative of a ‘clash of civilisations’ between Islam and Christianity, it focuses on the entangled histories of art and architecture in the medieval Mediterranean, examining through case studies the mediatory role of art, material culture and…

This module begins with the rise of Brian Ború from modest origins to become Ireland’s most famous high king – a spectacular career that ended in the iconic battle of Clontarf in 1014. We explore how Irish society and kingship changed in the aftermath of Clontarf as a result of inter-provincial warfare and the changing…

What do we mean by modern Ireland? Where is modern Ireland and when did it begin? Having broached these questions, this course will investigate what life was like on the island of Ireland across the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Reflecting the increased focus on social and cultural themes in Irish historiography, this course addresses the…

    Do you love Paris in the Springtime? Looking for a high-level writing event? Your dream has come true! Make significant progress on a writing project amongst the haunts of many great writers of the past! Follow Moore, Joyce and Beckett to the great capital of European culture! 30 hours of high-level seminars available over…

A new course on modern architecture will run in Hilary Term. You may apply online or by phone* as follows: Online: You may register and pay by credit/debit card online at www.historieshumanities.tcd.ie/shortcourses AFTER enrolments open for each term. By telephone: Please text ‘APPLY FOR COURSE’ TO 087 2572015* and you will receive a call back.…

The module will study some patterns of artistic development in Britain, France and Ireland, with reference to the circumstances found in the main centres of production. It will explore the roles of the period’s major artists, including Gainsborough, Hogarth, Angelica Kauffmann, and Reynolds; H.D. Hamilton, Hone and Roberts, and Boucher, David, Adélaïde Labille-Guiard and Goya.…

Overview Discover how philosophy shapes our modern world with ‘Philosophy Today’, our new public lecture series for 2024. Over six engaging lectures, Trinity College Dublin’s distinguished philosophers will discuss their current research and reveal its practical applications. Explore the connections between philosophical inquiry and everyday life as our speakers share their current work and offer…

This course is offered subject to minimum registration numbers. Polish is spoken by more than 40 million people worldwide as a ‘mother tongue’, and it is the second most widely spoken Slavic language in the world. It uses Latin alphabet, and so is a great gateway to other Slavic languages. The Polish community is also…

At the beginning of the twelfth century western Christendom had a new optimism: a commercial and urban boom, new religious orders, new church buildings, the codification of religious law, a flourishing of religious art, a movement to ‘recover’ the Holy Land. From 1250-1500 war, plague, and religious dissent had a profound impact on European life.…

The lecture-only module will examine Netherlands’ wealth of artistic production in the seventeenth century, primarily studying Rembrandt and Vermeer. These contrasting and complementary figures represent the diverse tendencies of the time. The course will focus on the development of individual styles and subject matter ranging from history painting to portraiture, landscape, and genre painting. The…

The Hundred Years War was a series of wars, on land and sea, arising primarily from the political and dynastic conflicts of the kings of England and France. It was fought mainly in France but also engulfed Brittany, Scotland, the Iberian kingdoms, the Netherlands and other countries. The first part of the conflict is retold…

This course presents a thematic introduction to Irish art, architecture and design in its broader international context. Subjects will be connected across periods and styles – the focus not on presenting summarised histories but rather considering how aspects of Irish visual history are connected and have evolved over time. Lectures will include identifying key works…

This module presents a thematic overview of the global intersections and relationships of Western visual and material culture across a range of historically located examples. Topics are explored in this module under the broad themes of appropriations and the ‘other’ and cultural geographies. Through these lenses, lectures will explore topics as diverse as orientalism, photography…

In this module, we discuss how Europe was defined and redefined through war, military occupation, civil conflicts, and peace agreements in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Drawing on examples of various—through often interrelated—conflicts, we discuss several major questions: How did international and civil conflicts shape European culture and politics? Why was the twentieth century so…