In this lesson, we will examine the legal system of early Ireland, known as the Brehon Laws.

We will explore the key features of this system, including its polycentric nature, the role of the people in law-making, and the compensation-based approach to justice.

We will also discuss the factors that led to the decline of the Brehon Laws and their eventual replacement by British Crown laws.

Lesson Outcomes:

• Explain the polycentric nature of the Brehon Law system and its unique approach to justice
• Analyze the role of the breitheamh, or judges, in the Brehon Law system
• Discuss the two primary types of law in the Brehon Law system and how they related to local and universal customs and practices
• Examine the decline of the Brehon Laws and the impact of British Crown laws on Irish legal traditions
• Compare and contrast the Brehon Law system to modern legal systems and discuss the relevance of the Brehon Laws in today’s society

Additional Materials:

• Lesson Transcript: Introduction to the Brehon Laws of Early Ireland