Urban Geography Class Topaz

Aims of Today’s Class To understand how urbanisation occurs To understand the story of Dublin To understand Economic, Administrative and Social activities in cities

The World at Night

How did ‘we’ become urbanised? From Viking Beginning – 10th Century To Norman Control - 12th Century To Georgian Dublin – 18th Century And Beyond… (19th-21st Centuries)

The Story of Dublin

Imagine… The year is 950AD, and a group of Vikings have found themselves in Ireland: Where would be the best place for them to settle? River Liffey! (near a dark coloured pool which provided shelter for the Viking ships) So after settling they decide to use the Irish words for black pool – dubh linn – and named their settlement Dyflinn The settlement they have is very primitive, wattle and daub style houses some wooden, kindling for heat – some arrangement of weapons

Imagine… The year is 1170 (130 years later) and the Normans have taken control! By the 1300s they’ve transformed Dublin into a medieval city…

Imagine… By the 1700s (400 years later) the old medieval walls were swept away and broad streets and elegant squares were built! Such as O’Connell Street and Merrion Square Ireland has its own parliament until 1800! And that meant that Dublin was the administrative capital of Ireland where many wealthy landlords built Georgian townhouses! Dublin was actually one of the largest and most fashionable cities in Europe!

Page 250 Features

Imagine… So the 1800s saw the Act of Union appear which abolished the Irish Parliament  which meant Dublin declined as a centre of administration and fashion – wealthy people abandoned the city and sold on their Georgian houses (some of which were bought by ‘slum landlords’ and rented room by room to poor families.) The introduction of a railway linked Dublin with new subrubs such as Dun Laoghaire, Dalkey and Killiney – many wealthy people went to live in the new ‘fashionable’ suburbs. With manufacturing in decline the port area became the centre of Dublin’s economic life.

But – From 1900 Onwards… Dublin featured rapid population growth! Due to Economic, Social and Administrative Reasons. Economic: Dublin was the focus of Ireland’s road, rail and other transport routes (ports and airports). It was Irelands biggest manufacturing city. And it’s our chief commercial centre and port – contains the HQ of many banks and commercial firms. Social: Rural – Urban migration. Migration from Centre – Suburbs caused urban sprawl. Administrative: After independence in 1921 Dublin once again became the capital of Ireland! Our civil services also operate mainly out of Dublin.

Aims of Today’s Class To understand how urbanisation occurs To understand the story of Dublin To understand Economic, Administrative and Social activities in cities

Homework Page 252 Questions 1 + 2