This lecture examines colonial Ireland as an integral part of the English imperial system. While there is no escaping discussion of race, religion, and rebellion or of extreme violence, exploitation, and expropriation, there are also stories of assimilation, acceptance, negotiation, survival, and tolerance that need to be told. The traditional configurations of kingdom, colony, and empire are viewed through the prism of gender and the particular relationship between marriage and cultural assimilation is also examined.

The recording of this lecture will appear here www.history.ox.ac.uk/event/the-james-ford-lectures-assimilation at 17:00 on Friday 5 February. The recording will be available for the whole of Hilary Term for viewing at your convenience.