When we think of the great civilizations, the peoples that helped shape the direction of the world, we don’t often think of the Irish. That is not meant to be a slam, as I’m about half-Irish and appreciate my heritage.
Thomas Cahill, in his How the Irish Saved Civilization, argues that the Irish we not just a good people, but that they were responsible for the way Europe turned out.
He starts by giving a summary of the fall of the Roman Empire. The Empire had been responsible for the spread of “civilization” but their fall led to some uncertainty.
It was during the Roman era that Christianity came to Ireland by Patrick. Ireland had never been a part of the Roman Empire. Christianity continued to develop in Ireland, even after the Romans left Britain.
The southern parts of Britain were Christian of a Roman orientation, while some places in the north were evangelized by the Irish and had a Celtic flavour. This led to conflict, especially at the Synod of Whitby.
Cahill covers these important events in an easy to read way, illustrating the issues with modern examples.
He shows that the Irish tended toward the establishment of monasteries and it was these Irish monks who travelled over Europe, promoting literacy and thus “saving civilization.”
I think Cahill’s theses is overstated. There were other factors besides the Irish, not to diminish their influence. Also, civilization was not limited to Europe. Still, Cahill makes his point that Irish Christianity was a powerful influence on the civilization of the West.
