In the early 17th century, Dublin was still a medieval town contained within its city walls. The citizens of the city paid taxes to the King and in return were offered protection and security. Those outside the walls did not pay taxes and were considered "at liberty". The area of Dublin known as the Liberties gets its name from these times - it lay outside the walls of the city and its people were at liberty.

Dublin City was much smaller then - you could have walked from one side of the city to the other in less than fifteen minutes! Areas which we consider being part of Dublin city today may have had small settlements of houses or were just tracts of forested land. Trade from abroad was limited. Wine was imported and animal skins and wool were exported.

During the 1600s, the population of the city began to rise. More goods began to be imported and exported though there were some restrictions put on certain goods. The meeting point of the Liffey and the Poddle was enclosed and the land reclaimed. In the 1660s the Marquis of Ormond, the Lord Lieutenant, began to expand the city beyond the walls which could no longer contain the growing population. New buildings and bridges were constructed and the city outside the walls began to take shape.

By the end of the 1600s there were many modern innovations in Dublin including some public lighting, a fire service and a newspaper. There was a theatre and social events for those who could afford them and bookshops for those who could read and afford books.