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How the Irish Saved Civilization
- The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
- By: Thomas Cahill
- Narrated by: Donal Donnelly
- Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall4 out of 5 stars 949
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Performance4 out of 5 stars 627
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Story4 out of 5 stars 626
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, 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.
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5 out of 5 stars
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Fascinating book
- By P on 08-15-04
- How the Irish Saved Civilization
- The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe
- By: Thomas Cahill
- Narrated by: Donal Donnelly
A good historical allegory, but tainted by extreme Christian Bias
Reviewed: 10-21-16
This book has the potential to be excellent. It provides a unique and extremely valuable new perspective on the Irish and will change the way you look at the history of western society.
The problem is that all this information comes packaged in unbelievable Christian bias and rhetoric. Such gems as, "The Europeans were just scattered animists ready for a change," to the insinuation that Europe was a land of darkness and evil gods until Christianity brought love, light, and acceptance to the world. Anyone living in reality knows that is not the case. Religion forced by sword and the threat of death to entire civilizations hardly aligns with all this "love and light".
Still, I'm giving the book 3 stars for the history I was able to receive by sifting through the nonsense. If it were just the information told unbiasedly, I would've give the book 5 stars.
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2 people found this helpful