Settlements Flashcards
Mesolithic
First people to settle in Ireland Arrived in 7000BC Ate fish, deer, duck, wild pig, hazel nuts Hunter gatherers Mount Sandel
Neolithic
Start 5000BC - 2000BC
first farmers
Houses made from wattle and daub
Lough Gur
Settlements in Ireland
Mesolithic Neolithic Bronze age Iron Age/Celts Early Christian Ireland Vikings Normans
Iron Age/Celts
Arrived 800BC
Warlike people
Began using iron
Defensive settlements
Built crannógs, ringforts, hill forts on elevated sites.
Dún/Inis/Rath suggested Celtic settlements
Early Christian Ireland
400AD - 1000AD
Monasteries found (Glendalough, Clonmacnoise)
Grew into settlements (Ennis)
Place names begin with Mainstir
Vikings
8th century
Settled in Dublin, Waterford, Cork
Attacked monasteries
Established along the coast, bays, harbours
primate city
A city at least twice as big as the next city in the same state. Eg. Paris and Copenhagen are European examples
Functions of Dublin
Seat of the government - The Dáil, Seanead, most civil state cervices in Dublin
Ireland’s chief port - Has largest airport in state, with thousands of employees
Centre of Ireland’s road and rail network - transport system radiates outwards to provinces from Dublin
Ireland’s most important financial centre - large companies (bambks, insurance companies) have their headquarters there
Most important centre for shopping, tourism, education and health
factors influencing the distribution of towns and cities
altitude
drainage patterns
land quality
factors influencing the distribution of towns and cities
Altitude
Nucleated settlements avoid high altitudes
Mountains + hills exposed to high winds + attract relief rain
Temperatures lower than at sea level
Nucleated settlements confined to coast + valleys that cut through mountains
factors influencing the distribution of towns and cities
Drainage patterns
River valleys attracted settlement since ancient times
River valleys contain fertile land that attracted farming settlements +
provided food for towns located by river
Towns located at bridging points - become a route focus, eg. Athlone, Ballina
Towns + cities locate at estuaries + mouths of rivers
- land is lower
- close to ports - trade, transport
- Dublin, Galway
factors influencing the distribution of towns and cities
Land quality
Poor land that may be marshy, infertile or subject to flooding repels settlement
Fertile land attracts settlement
Towns located in centre of rich agricultural land thrived - became market centres for produce from surrounding area
Provided services for local population
Some settlements located on coast. (May be fishing ports, eg. Killybegs, Co. Donegal or coastal resorts, eg. Tramore, Co. Waterford)
Marshy land repels settlement
Nucleated settlement developed on boundaries of peatlands.
Polders
Reclaimed land which is used for agricultural and settlement purposes
Multifunctional town
A town with many functions (uses)
Functions of a town
R religious/residential I industrial C commerce E educational P port O open spaces/recreational T tourism S services
