Why did Ireland never cohere into a single nation state before the Norman conquest?
They all considered themselves to be part of the same ethno-cultural group, contrasting themselves with the Sassnach (Anglo-Saxons) and the Lochlannaigh (Vikings). They also had the same laws and religion.
In most of Europe, groups like this tend to end up forming a single political entity. This never happened in Gaelic Ireland. Why?
>>512386
>Why did Italy never cohere into a single nation state before the Risorgimento?
>They all considered themselves to be part of the same ethno-cultural group, contrasting themselves franks, and the germans. They also had the same laws and religion (for the most part).
>In most of Europe, groups like this tend to end up forming a single political entity. This never happened in pre italian italy. Why?
Dont know. But shit happens
Because feudal power struggle between individual lords? Uniting ethnic groups into single national units wasn't really a thing before 19th century and when it happened, it usually happened by the sword.
>>512386
They were tribalist as fuck, and their favorite pastime was raiding their neighbors, if you're all one country there isn't many people too raid.
>>512386
Because nationalism has only really existed in the last two centuries, and power struggles were endemic amongst civilisations like this.
Also, correct me if i'm wrong but i'm fairly sure "Celtic" societies like this often have tanistry based succession which would often lead to larger kingdoms being divided up into smaller ones constantly.
>>512386
>Why did Ireland never cohere into a single nation state before the Norman conquest?
nation-states didn't exist before then, but Ireland was one nation for a long time. The country was divided by families but it was still seen as one country, and the high kingship was always the goal, even though we don't know any who achieved it (except Brian Boru, for like 20 minutes)
>>512386
Lack of geographic advantages.
Until the arrival of the Vikings, Ireland had no urban centers. Ireland before the modern era is basically a nightmare land where you can get frostbite and malaria at the same time, full of swamps and mountains and dense forest.
They lived as pastoralists, which pretty well hinders forming a cohesive state, and natural geography prevented anyone from being the biggest, nastiest pastoralist.
>>512386
Brain Boru nearly did this. When he became king of Munster, he first subjugated and absorbed Leinster and Dublin, then went on to break the back of the Ulster kingdoms.
He probably would have unified Ireland in his lifetime, but he died tragically. After his army repelled a viking invasion at Clontarf in 1014, he get shanked by two fleeing vikings who happened upon his tent.
Upon his death, the complex political house of cards he had spent his life building promptly collapsed back into warring tribalism.
Because they are monkey people that are too busy inbreeding on their island to generate any coherent thought
>>512386
>In most of Europe, groups like this tend to end up forming a single political entity.
Kek
Spain and Britain are still fragmented along ethno-linguistic lines (Spain obviously much more so), despite both having some of the largest empires in history. Germany wasn't unified until 1871, same year for Italy; and despite King Louis 14 being seen as the man who centralized power in France, the South of France was dominated by the Occitan language well into the 19th century.
You're confusing common king with common nation-state.
Stupid thread.
>>512521
What about Portugal
>>512567
Who?
>>512567
Portugal like Castile and Aragon was part of Spain. They just managed to break off and form their own entity.
>>512567
t. Alberto Barbosa
>>512518
t.eternal anglo
>>512386
The way Irish society worked wouldn't allow it. It was massively decentralized and wasn't feudal in nature like other countries.
>>512453
Bullshit, the island is dotted with small settlements, every hill is suspect in Ireland.
There are plenty of areas that existed prior to Vikings times but they didn't turn into major cities or towns of the modern period.
Why are there so many troll treads about Ireland lately? butthurt unionists?
This thread is pretty much full of crap, even wikipedia is more accurate than:
>no urban centers
>never unified
If you actually cared you could educate yourself instead of dropping shit bait
>>512794
I don't see anyone butthurt but you.
>>512453
>Ireland before the modern era is basically a nightmare land where you can get frostbite and malaria at the same time, full of swamps and mountains and dense forest.
The modern era was Irelands worst era by far, discounting the last century. 1600-1900 Ireland was absolute hell. Ancient and medieval Ireland were relatively alright.
>>512386
>nation state
>before the Norman conquest
Do you know what a nation state is?
>>512821
Yes I'm butthurt about the shit quality of this board which is basically /int/ without flags
>>512858
Well well done increasing the quality rather than just complaining. Good contribution Anon.
>>512858
Why don't you tell us the true history of Ireland then, faggot?
I'm sure the Normans destroyed all their space ports and futuristic cities.
>>512618
t. paddy o'flannigan
