5th Century Monasteries and the arrival of Vikings- 3rd Class

Irish 5th Century Monasteries

In the 5th century, many monasteries were built across Ireland. These were special places where monks lived, worked, and prayed together. People came to monasteries to learn, find safety, and share news.

The monastery had many important buildings. The church was where the monks prayed every day. The scriptorium was a quiet room where monks carefully wrote and decorated books by hand. The refectory was the dining hall where everyone ate their meals together.

The monks lived in small huts made from wood or stone. A tall round tower stood in the centre of the monastery and was used for safety and to store valuable items. Around the monastery, there were gardens where monks grew vegetables and herbs. They also kept animals such as chickens, cows, and sheep for food and work.

Many years later, Vikings came to Ireland from Scandinavia. They travelled across the sea in long wooden boats called longships. The Vikings were looking for new land and treasure. They often attacked monasteries because they knew monks kept valuable books, gold, and food there.

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