Mentor: Carolyn Craig

The research conducted in this study focuses on the concepts of society, social classes, and religion in ancient Ireland, specifically the 5th century. Specifically, the question I asked addresses how the shift from Celtic Paganism to Celtic Christianity impacted the high and common classes. The introduction of a new religion sparked a change in power dynamics, with multiple denominations of Christianity leaving their mark. The shift was not smooth, with aspects of pagan culture and practices being merged with the Church’s customs. By utilizing a literature review with secondary sources and reviewed works, it was found that the relationships themselves were not altered as much as expected compared to the shift of who the relationships were between. Druids were among the high classes, but as Christianity became the dominant religion, they were replaced by monks and priests. In order to keep power, pagan leaders aligned themselves with the new religion. Understanding religious histories is crucial if we desire to gain insight on why modern religions function the way they do.

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