How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe (THORNDIKE PRESS LARGE PRINT NONFICTION SERIES)

The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift, and 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. Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. 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. 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. Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. 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. As Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated. 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. But it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung Irish who relaunched civilization. The Perfect St. Patrick's Day Gift, And 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. Every Year Millions Of Americans Celebrate St. Patrick's Day, But They May Not Be Aware Of How Great An Influence St. Patrick Was On The Subsequent History Of Civilization. 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. 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. Without Ireland, The Transition Could Not Have Taken Place. 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. As Cahill Delightfully Illustrates, So Much Of The Liveliness We Associate With Medieval Culture Has Its Roots In Ireland. When The Seeds Of Culture Were Replanted On The European Continent, It Was From Ireland That They Were Germinated. 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. But It Conveys Its Knowledge With A Winking Wit That Aptly Captures The Sensibility Of The Unsung Irish Who Relaunched Civilization. Introduction: How Real Is History? -- I. The End Of The World: How Rome Fell -- And Why -- Ii. What Was Lost: The Complexities Of The Classical Tradition -- Iii. A Shifting World Of Darkness: Unholy Ireland -- Iv. Good News From Far Off: The First Missionary -- V.a Solid World Of Light: Holy Ireland -- Vi. What Was Found: How The Irish Saved Civilization -- Vii. The End Of The World: Is There Any Hope? Thomas Cahill. Book Jacket Of Vol. 3 Declares This To Be Vol. 1 Of Cahill's Hinges Of History Series. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

the Perfect St. Patrick's Day Gift, And 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.

every Year Millions Of Americans Celebrate St. Patrick's Day, But They May Not Be Aware Of How Great An Influence St. Patrick Was On The Subsequent History Of Civilization. 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.

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. Without Ireland, The Transition Could Not Have Taken Place. 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.

as Cahill Delightfully Illustrates, So Much Of The Liveliness We Associate With Medieval Culture Has Its Roots In Ireland. When The Seeds Of Culture Were Replanted On The European Continent, It Was From Ireland That They Were Germinated.

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. But It Conveys Its Knowledge With A Winking Wit That Aptly Captures The Sensibility Of The Unsung Irish Who Relaunched Civilization.

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cahill's Lively Prose Breathes Life Into A 1,600 Year-old History.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • 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. • The perfect St. Patrick's Day gift!Every year millions of Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but they may not be aware of how great an influence St. Patrick was on the subsequent history of civilization. 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. 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. Without Ireland, the transition could not have taken place. 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. As Cahill delightfully illustrates, so much of the liveliness we associate with medieval culture has its roots in Ireland. When the seeds of culture were replanted on the European continent, it was from Ireland that they were germinated. 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. But it conveys its knowledge with a winking wit that aptly captures the sensibility of the unsung Irish who relaunched civilization. From the fall of Rome to the rise of Charlemagne - the "dark ages" - learning, scholarship, and culture disappeared from the European continent. The great heritage of western civilization - from the Greek and Roman classics to Jewish and Christian works - would have been utterly lost were it not for the holy men and women of unconquered Ireland. In this delightful and illuminating look into a crucial but little-known "hinge" of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars," the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells. Here, far from the barbarian despoliation of the continent, monks and scribes laboriously, lovingly, even playfully preserved the west's written treasures. With the return of stability in Europe, these Irish scholars were instrumental in spreading learning. Thus the Irish not only were conservators of civilization, but became shapers of the medieval mind, putting their unique stamp on western culture. The author's graceful mastery of both prose and history combine to express both the voice and content of Irish culture. Cahill traces Ireland's pivotal role in the preservation and transmission of the intellectual legacy of the West, from the fall of Rome under the barbarian invasions that brought the Dark Ages to the rise of Medieval Europe which heralded its re-ascendance. In constructing the narrative that explains how Ireland became "the isle of saints and scholars", the author manages to capture the majestic scope of his subject in the plaintive and yet rollicking rhythms which evoke both the liveliness of Irish culture and its contribution to the era which was to give rise to the Renaissance In his compelling and entertaining narrative, Thomas Cahill tells the story of how Rome evolved from the classical age to the medieval era. Not only did Irish monks and scribes maintain the very record of Western civilization - copying the manuscripts of both pagan and Christian writers including Homer, Virgil, Plato and Aristotle, while libraries on the continent were forever lost - they brought their uniquely Irish view of the world to the task. It was in Ireland that the seeds of European cultures were germanated anew - thus, the liveliness we associate with the Middle Ages Introduction: How Real Is History? The End of the World: How Rome Fell--and Why What Was Lost: The Complexities of the Classical Tradition A Shifting World of Darkness: Unholy Ireland Good News From Far Off: The First Missionary A Solid World of Light: Holy Ireland What Was Found: How the Irish Saved Civilization The End of the World: Is There Any Hope? Pronunciation Guide to Key Irish Words Bibliographical Sources Chronology Acknowledgments Index Introduction: How Real Is History? I. The End of the World: How Rome Fell - And Why II. What Was Lost: The Complexities of the Classical Tradition III. A Shifting World of Darkness: Unholy Ireland IV. Good News from Far Off: The First Missionary V. A Solid World of Light: Holy Ireland VI. What Was Found: How the Irish Saved Civilization VII. The End of the World: Is There Any Hope? Describes how Irish monks and scribes maintained the record of Western civilization by copying the manuscripts of both pagan and Christian writers, including Homer, Virgil, Plato and Aristotle, while libraries on the continent were lost forever. How Irish scholars preserved Greek and Roman classics, Jewish and Christian writings, and other writings that might have been lost when the Roman Empire collapsed Travel to the Ireland of St. Patrick where monks and scribes laboriously and lovingly worked to preserve the written treasury of Western heritage