Abstract
In early Ireland there were many different political divisions, which formed a political pyramid. At the bottom of the pyramid was the tuath. Translating tuath into English proves difficult because of the special connotation associated with the term in Old Irish, the language of early Ireland. It is often translated as tribe, petty kingdom, or at any time was divided into 150 different kingdoms. Next, I will describe the arrival of Christianity and monasticism. This will then allow me to discuss the basics of early Irish law, which was partially influenced, as I will argue, by Christianity. Once I have demonstrated how early Irish law functioned as a whole, I will describe the early Irish legal codes in general. Next, I will discuss the complexities of early Irish surety. Finally, I will conclude this chapter with a layout of my thesis, including my methodology and argument.