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Modern history: 1500-1700

The two centuries to 1700 were frequently punctuated by upheaval, war, and devastating violence. Historians refer to the bloodshed of the 17th century as ‘the General Crisis’, a period in which up to a third of the world’s population may have lost their lives. And yet these turbulent years saw the development of the modern economy. Familiar features such as market towns and pubs appeared for the first time, just as the world seemed to be tearing itself apart.

The Ulster Museum’s collection of items from the birth of the modern era bears testament to these trends. The conflicts of the era are reflected in the weapons and armour that we have on display. Coins, trading tokens, printed material and religious items trace the rapid development of civilian life in the shadow of war. Some of these items speak to intimate domesticity, such as Gaelic drinking vessels, called methers. These large cups are designed for social drinking—multiple handles make it easier to pass from one person to the next.

This period was transformative for Ireland. English and Scottish settlers were granted land in Ireland from the end of the sixteenth century. This process of settlement, known as the Plantation, occurred all over Ireland, but was particularly intense in Ulster.

The Plantation created conflict, but also prompted an interplay between different cultural traditions. The Dungiven Costume on display is evidence of this. The jacket is inspired by English fashion, while the tartan trousers have Scottish influences. The cloak, or mantle, is a distinctly Irish item. The implications of this cultural exchange had social, economic, and political implications for Ireland, even today.

The collection also includes gun money and other objects from the Williamite-Jacobite War in Ireland. We hold printed maps of Ulster, propaganda, paintings, and glassware dating to this period.

BELUM.P8.1978

A GENERAL MAP OF THE LANDS BELONG-/ING TO THE CITY OF LONDON AS THEY ARE / DIVIDED AND LET OUT TO THE 12 COMPA-/NIES,

BELUM.P13.1978

A GENERAL MAPP OF IRELAND
Map

BELUM.P351.1916

A MAPP / OF THE KINGDOME OF / IRELAND / BY RIC BLOME BY HIS MATYS COM.
Map

BELUM.P12.1978

A TRUE SURVEY OF / THE EARL OF DONEGALS = / BARRONIE OF ENISH = OWEN / CONTAINING THE TWO ADJACENT HARBOURS OF LOUGH =

BELUM.P3.1977

BARONIA / UDRONE / IN COMITATU / CATHERLOUGHAE
Map

BELUM.P87.1977

Carlingford Lough
MAP; Sea chart

BELUM.P86.1977

"Carreckfergus Lough"
MAP; Sea chart

BELUM.P74.1977

COMITATUS / LAGENIAE / THE COUNTIE OF / LEINSTER.
Map

BELUM.P25.1978

CONNA / TIA. / 1616
Map

BELUM.P4.1978

CONNACK
Map

BELUM.P84.1977

DE NOORDOOST ZYDE / VAN / YERLANDT / VAN CAAP DE HOORN - HOUT / TOT HEDEHDE - HOUT OOCK HOE / 'TVAN SCHOTLANDT GESTREKT

BELUM.P23.1978

HIBERNIA
Map

BELUM.P72.1977

HIBERNIA / REGNUM / VULGO / IRELAND
Map

BELUM.P24.1978

HIBERNIA / SEPTENTR. / IN QUA / ULTONIA / CONNATIA
Map

BELUM.P18.1978

HIBERNIA ANTIQVA / IERNA Orpheo & Aust. / IRISHDiodoro Siculo. / IUUERNA Iuuenali. / YUERDON Britanni. / IRELAND

BELUM.P27.1978

HIBERNIA AUSTRAL. / IN QUA / MOMONIA LAGENIA
Map

BELUM.P640.1951

HIBERNIAE IRELAND ANGLIS YVERDON BRITANNIS ERIN INCOLIS. IERNA / ORPHEO and ARIST. IRIS DIODORO SICULO IVVERNA

BELUM.P1.1976

HIBERNIAE / BRITANNICAE / INSVLAE, NOVA / DESCRIPTIO. ERYN. IRLANDT.
Map

BELUM.P230.1946

HIBERNIAE / BRITANNICAE / INSVLAE, NOVA / DESCRIPTIO. ERYN. IRLANDT.
Map

BELUM.P939.1926

HIBERNIAE / IRELAND ANGLIS. YVERDON / BRITANNIS ERIN INCOLIS. / ERNA / ORPHEO & ARIST. IRIS DIODORO SICULO / IVVERNA

BELUM.P8.1976

IRLAN : / DIAE / REGN : / UM
Map

BELUM.P2.1979

IRLAND / DA
Map

BELUM.P7.1978

IRLANDA
Map

BELUM.P19.1977

IRLANDIAE / REGNUM
Map

BELUM.P28.1978

LAGENIA
Map

BELUM.P3.1978

LINSTER
Map

BELUM.P26.1978

MEDIA
Map

BELUM.P2.1978

MOUNSTER
Map

BELUM.P75.1977

PROVINCIA / CONNACH / TIAE / THE PROVINCE OF / CONNAUGT
Map

BELUM.P73.1977

PROVINCIA / MOMONIAE. / THE PROVINCE OF / MOUNSTER
Map

BELUM.P76.1977

PROVINCIA / ULTONIAE / THE PROVINCE OF / ULSTER
Map

BELUM.P1.1979

TABVLA EVROPAE PRIMA
Map

BELUM.P67.1977

THE / COUNTIE / OF / LEINSTER / WITH / THE CITIE DUBLIN /DESCRIBED / BY I. SPEED
Map

BELUM.P1262.1918

"THE / INVASIONS / OF ENGLAND / AND / IRELAND / WITH AL THEIR CIUILL / WARS SINCE THE / CONQUEST BY I. SPEED"
Map

BELUM.P6.1976

THE / INVASIONS / OF ENGLAND / AND / IRELAND / WITH AL THEIR CIVILL / WARS SINCE THE / CONQUEST / BY I. SPEED.
Map

BELUM.P1.1978

THE / KINGDO : / ME OF / IRELAND
Map

BELUM.P191.1912

THE / KINGDOM / OF / IRELAND / BY ROBT. MORDEN.
Map

BELUM.P65.1977

THE / KINGDOME / OF IRELAND / DEVIDED INTO SEVERALL PROVINCES, AND THE / AGAINE DEVIDED INTO COUNTIES / NEWLY

BELUM.P940.1926

THE / KINGDONE / OF IRELAND / DIVIDED INTO SEVERALL PROVINCES, AND THE / AGAINE DIVIDED INTO COUNTIES. / NEWLY

BELUM.P66.1977

THE / PROVINCE / OF / MOUNSTER / BY I. SPEED
Map

BELUM.P69.1977

THE / PROVINCE / ULSTER / DESCRIBED
Map

BELUM.P68.1977

THE / PROVINCE OF / CONNAUGH (sic) / WITH THE CITIE GALWAYE / DESCRIBED / BY I. SPEED
Map

BELUM.P38.1977

THE / PROVINCE OF / CONNAUGH (sic) / WITH THE CITIE OF GALWAYE / DESCRIBED / BY I. SPEED.
Map

BELUM.P2.1976

THE PROVINCE / ULSTER / DESCRIBED
Map

BELUM.P15.1978

THE PROVINCE OF CONNOUGHT
Map

BELUM.P16.1978

THE PROVINCE OF MUNSTER
Map

BELUM.P14.1978

THE PROVINCE OF ULSTER
Map

BELUM.P561.1951

THE PROVINCE OF ULSTER
Map

BELUM.P562.1951

THE PROVINCE ULSTER DESCRIBED.
Map

BELUM.P29.1978

UDRONE
Map

BELUM.P5.1978

ULSTER
Map

BELUM.P10.1976

VLTONIA / HIBERNIS CUI - GUILLY : / ANGLIS VLSTER.
Map