The Book of Kells: Exploring an Irish Medieval Masterpiece Course - Trinity College Dublin
Online, Ireland
Course
DURATION
4 weeks
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
About: Discover medieval Ireland through the Book of Kells, a ninth-century illuminated manuscript of the four Gospels housed at Trinity College Dublin. This 100% online course uses the manuscript to explore medieval landscape, history, faith, biography, and influence on the contemporary world. Book of Kells attracts almost one million visitors a year. The course is available.
Career Outcomes: Study can lead to career opportunities in museum curation, archives, heritage management, conservation, research, and teaching; roles include curator, archivist, conservator, researcher, educator. You'll gain skills in primary-source analysis, visual analysis, and heritage communication for galleries, libraries, archives, universities, and cultural organizations.
Discover medieval Ireland using the Book of Kells, a ninth-century manuscript featuring the four gospels of the new testament.
Explore the history of Ireland using the remarkable Book of Kells
The Book of Kells manuscript, housed at Trinity College Dublin is world famous - it attracts almost one million visitors a year. But what can this book tell us about Irish history? And what significance is the manuscript in today’s world?
In this course, you will use the Book of Kells as a window through which to explore the landscape, history, faith, theology, and politics of early medieval Ireland. You will also consider how the manuscript was made, its extended biography and how it has affected different areas of the contemporary world.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and learn at your own pace. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
- Available now
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Trinity College Dublin
Founded in 1592, Trinity College Dublin is Ireland’s highest-ranked university. It promotes a diverse, interdisciplinary environment to nurture ground-breaking research, innovation, and creativity.
What topics will you cover?
- Where and how the manuscript was made.
- The social context from which the manuscript emerged, including early medieval faith and politics.
- The artistic context of the manuscript, reflecting local and international styles.
- The theology and interpretations of the text.
- How and why the manuscript survived.
- The Book of Kells and contemporary culture.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to:
- Explain the function and meanings of medieval Irish art.
- Understand how medieval manuscripts were made.
- Engage critically with methodologies and scholarly debates which have shaped interpretations of the period.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the distinctive features of the Irish Church in this era.
- Combine visual analysis with theological and historical appraisal regarding medieval material culture.
Who is the course for?
The course is for anyone with an interest in Ireland, medieval studies, history, art, religion and/or popular culture.
