Initial portions of the book examine Ireland before the arrivals of Patrick and Saint Augustine of Canterbury.
The book details his early struggles through slavery, mirroring much of the content in The Confession of Saint Patrick. A particular focus is placed upon Saint Patrick. The book presents Western history from the collapse of the Roman Empire and the pivotal role played by members of the clergy at the time. But it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung Irish who relaunched civilization.How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe is a non-fiction historical book written by Thomas Cahill.Ĭahill argues a case for the Irish people's critical role in preserving Western Civilization from utter destruction by the Huns and the Germanic tribes ( Visigoths, Franks, Angles, Saxons, Ostrogoths, etc.). In the tradition of Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror, How The Irish Saved Civilization reconstructs an era that few know about but which is central to understanding our past and our cultural heritage.
When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated. Not only did Irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of Western civilization - copying manuscripts of Greek and Latin writers, both pagan and Christian, while libraries and learning on the continent were forever lost-they brought their uniquely Irish world-view to the task.Īs Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. In this entertaining and compelling narrative, Thomas Cahill tells the story of how Europe evolved from the classical age of Rome to the medieval era. Not only did he bring Christianity to Ireland, he instilled a sense of literacy and learning that would create the conditions that allowed Ireland to become "the isle of saints and scholars"-and thus preserve Western culture while Europe was being overrun by barbarians. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St.
Įvery year millions of Americans celebrate St. A book in the best tradition of popular history-the untold story of Ireland's role in maintaining Western culture while the Dark Ages settled on Europe.
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