Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trade and commerce thrived in 1200's, with goods being imported and exported from vari-
ous European countries. There were weekly markets in Dublin, where people from all over
the country would come to buy and sell wares and other necessities. A conduit was built to
bring in fresh water to Dublin in 1224 and in the 14th century, the main streets were paved.
Sanitation was one lingering issue in Dublin as there were no sewerage system at the time.
Dublin went through several upheavals in the 16th and 17th centuries, but The Reformation
(a schism within Western Christianity), occured peacefully in Dublin during this era. It was
also during this period that Dublin prospered with their living standards rising to impress-
ive levels. Like all 16th century towns, Dublin suffered from outbreaks of plague. In 1579,
an outbreak killed thousands and another tragedy befell Dublinin 1596 when a gunpowder
store exploded killing more than 120 people.
In 1591, Trinity College was founded by Queen Elizabeth granting the charter for this pres-
tigious educational institution. In the year 1700, the population grew to about 60,000 and
the conditions in the middle and upper classes improved although there were still traces of
poverty around.
Multiple structures such as the Marsh Library and St Ann's Church were built and a number
of hospitals were founded. Several parks like College Park in 1722, Phoenix Park in the
mid-18th century, Reanelagh gardens in 1776, Botanic Gardens in 1795 and the St Steph-
ens Green in the late 18th century, all provided fashionable places to relax and take leis-
urely walks within Dublin.
By the 1800's, the population grew to about 180,000 and along with it fever hospitals were
opened in Dublin. The most common fever during this time was typhus, sometimes called
goal fever and it afflicted many of the poor due to their living conditions. The Great Famine
in 1845 also affected Dublin in a harrowing way. The numbers of those fleeing due to star-
vation was overwhelming and the death toll shot up to hundreds of thousands throughout
Ireland.
In the early 19th century, several new bridges were built across the Liffey. Amenities
greatly improved in Dublin during the 19th century and in the 20th century, several rebel-
lions and uprisings took place. In the early 1900 Dublin suffered severely from street fight-
ing and many buildings were destroyed. The War of Independence took place, a conflict
which produced many tragic incidents, a number of which are still remembered today. The
Anglo-Irish Treaty between Britain and Ireland was signed, creating the Irish Free State.
Ireland as a country remained neutral during the Second World War. The war years also
saw the temporary increase of the Jewish community who fled from the German Nazis.
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