How The Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story Of Ireland's Heroic Role From The Fall Of Rome To The Rise Of Medieval Europe

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 insightful look into a crucial but little-known part of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars," the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells. Here, monks and scribes preserved the west's written treasures away from the barbarian invaders. As stability returned to Europe, Irish scholars helped spread learning, shaping medieval thought and culture.