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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
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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 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Thomas Cahill (Author), Donal Donnelly (Narrator), Random House Audio (Publisher)
4.5 out of 5 stars 2,106 ratings

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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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  1. Part of a series
    The Hinges of History
  2. Listening Length
    8 hours and 12 minutes
  3. Author
    Thomas Cahill
  4. Narrator
    Donal Donnelly
  5. Audible release date
    Feb. 22 2001
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Random House Audio
  8. ASIN
    B071NR46HP
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
Next slide of product details

Product details

Part of a series The Hinges of History
Listening Length 8 hours and 12 minutes
Author Thomas Cahill
Narrator Donal Donnelly
Audible.ca Release Date February 22 2001
Publisher Random House Audio
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B071NR46HP
麻豆区 Rank

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4.5 out of 5 stars
2,106 global ratings

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Customers find the content fascinating, wonderful, and worth reading/hearing more than once. They describe the book as concise, easy to read, and thoroughly researched. Readers appreciate the writing style, saying it's remarkable and unique. They also appreciate the historical information, saying the author brings it to life with his keen sense of the historical, philosophical, and spiritual.

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ContentReadabilityWriting styleHistorical information
11 customers mention "Content"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the content fascinating, wonderful, and worth reading or hearing more than once. They also appreciate the early poets, saints, and the Irish love of literature, poetry, and calligraphy.

"...They really did save civilization. The book is easy to read and very interesting...." Read more

"Wonderful book! Delivered on time and in very good shape, just as advertised" Read more

"Well written, very informative, a good read." Read more

"Excellent read..." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book concise, easy to read, and informative. They also say it's thoroughly researched.

"...They really did save civilization. The book is easy to read and very interesting...." Read more

"It is eye opening and jaw dropping. Well written, thoroughly researched and brilliant...." Read more

"I very interesting, easy to read book filling the average reader in on some transitions in history they may have never heard of before...." Read more

"Well written, very informative, a good read." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing style"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style remarkable, unique, and readable. They also appreciate the book's love of literature, poetry, and history.

"It is eye opening and jaw dropping. Well written, thoroughly researched and brilliant...." Read more

"Cahill's writing style is remarkable - he has a unique way of writing a chapter that contains 90% apparently unrelated information to the topic, and..." Read more

"...civilization, early poets, saints and the Irish love of literature, poetry, calligraphy and history...." Read more

"Cahill is a great writer." Read more

4 customers mention "Historical information"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has a keen sense of history, philosophical, and spiritual. They say it brings it to life with its fascinating history of Irish civilization, early poets, and saints.

"Completely entranced by this fascinating history of Irish civilization, early poets, saints and the Irish love of literature, poetry, calligraphy..." Read more

"I appreciate the unique historical information this book provides, particularly with respect to literature, consciousness of humanity, religion, Rome..." Read more

"...The dynamic historical perspective is a rare treat." Read more

"...history as few people do, he brings it to life with his keen sense of the historical, philosophgical, and spiritual connetion points in the great..." Read more

Acceptable condition for the book. Slightly yellowed but overall readable.
4 out of 5 stars
Acceptable condition for the book. Slightly yellowed but overall readable.
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Top reviews from Canada

  • Victor Boyle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read
    Reviewed in Canada on April 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great addition to my collection
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bruce Frazer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is how Ireland saved Roman Civilzation
    Reviewed in Canada on October 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    It is eye opening and jaw dropping. Well written, thoroughly researched and brilliant. Anyone who cares about how civilzation survived the decline and demise of the Roman Empire...needs to read this. This is how it happened.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Wesley G. Campbell
    4.0 out of 5 stars Acceptable condition for the book. Slightly yellowed but overall readable.
    Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Satisfied.
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    Wesley G. Campbell
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    Acceptable condition for the book. Slightly yellowed but overall readable.

    Reviewed in Canada on October 20, 2021
    Satisfied.
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  • Stephen Lynch
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating read.
    Reviewed in Canada on August 17, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Completely entranced by this fascinating history of Irish civilization, early poets, saints and the Irish love of literature, poetry, calligraphy and history. The world might have stayed in The Dark Ages for a couple of more centuries had the Irish not collected and transcribed all the known works of the Romans and Greeks.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Mary Ann Tippett
    3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating but hard to read
    Reviewed in Canada on April 10, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I appreciate the unique historical information this book provides, particularly with respect to literature, consciousness of humanity, religion, Rome's demise, and missionaries. St. Patrick is now my superhero. St. Augustine not so much. As someone who actually chose Philosophy as a second major (aka weirdo), I also adored the philosophical snippets and nods to Plato, Socrates, etc. The spelling out of historical poems and latin verses plus translations were difficult to read and made the long chapters feel longer. I wish the structure of the book had been more approachable. I had to work hard at concentrating to understand everything (not always succeeding), and I have a law degree so I do know how to dissect overly complicated obiter dictum. (I just looked up that word, by the way. It's not something I use in every day conversation. Lol.) I will keep this book on my shelf much as I would a text book for reference, because the breakdown of events/literature/missionaries beginning from 3000BC to present is fascinating in itself.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Jessica
    5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and captivating
    Reviewed in Canada on May 24, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best print resources available on the history of the fall of the Roman empire and the ensuing transitions. The dynamic historical perspective is a rare treat.
    One person found this helpful
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  • KPMJO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cahill's writing style is remarkable - he has a unique ...
    Reviewed in Canada on November 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Cahill's writing style is remarkable - he has a unique way of writing a chapter that contains 90% apparently unrelated information to the topic, and in the final 10% pulls it all together and it "clicks". Understanding western civilization is complicated. Cahill unravels the mystery.
    Also, who can resist such a provocative title ;-)
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Gaetane McGraw
    5.0 out of 5 stars The book is easy to read and very interesting
    Reviewed in Canada on April 26, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    God bless the Irish. They really did save civilization. The book is easy to read and very interesting. If you are curious about how the Irish saved christianity, this is a good book.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Angela
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book with a very interesting History
    Reviewed in Spain on December 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Physically talking, the book is worth buying, containing detailed maps, illustrations, and at the end, a Chronology and a Pronunciation Guide to Key Irish Words.

    When I embarked on this book, 'How the Irish Saved Civilization' by Thomas Cahill, I was skeptical about the bold claim encapsulated in its title. Was Cahill using hyperbole, or was there substance to the notion of the Irish playing a pivotal role in saving civilization? While the title might seem grandiose, the narrative unfolds into a fascinating exploration of a lesser-known part of history that, if true, carries profound implications.

    The book commences with an examination of the Fall of the Roman Empire, attributing its decline to reasons like indolence, decadence, and disease. Cahill contends that amid this collapse, the invaluable libraries of Ancient Rome and its wealth of learning faced imminent peril. The invading barbarian hordes, being pagan and illiterate, posed a significant threat to the preservation of knowledge.

    Enter the Irish, whose role in rescuing Western civilization forms the crux of Cahill's narrative. The author recounts a condensed version of St. Patrick's history and highlights how Irish abbots and monks ventured across the continent, reviving Christianity in places where it had waned or never taken root. They meticulously copied manuscripts, preserving classical texts through generations, often when they were lost elsewhere. Cahill emphasizes their use of the vernacular Irish language, even providing a Pronunciation Guide at the end of the book. The influence of Plato's philosophical texts is also explored.

    If Cahill's assertions are accurate, Irish monks played a pivotal role in saving civilization by safeguarding classical literature. As the Dark Age gave way to the Medieval Age, these Irish scholars disseminated the knowledge they had preserved throughout Europe. The very idea that such a significant historical event is not more widely known raises doubts. Shouldn't an event of such magnitude be a more prominent part of historical discourse?

    Compounding the uncertainty is the fact that Cahill himself is not a historian. While this isn't inherently problematic, as compelling histories and biographies can be written by journalists, the best ones typically include exhaustive notes and sources to substantiate their claims—something notably absent in this case.

    After completing the book, I find myself grappling with uncertainty. The overarching premise—that Irish monks saved civilization by preserving classical literature—feels dubious. However, the narrative is compelling, and certain aspects resonate with logic. Perhaps, amid the uncertainties, there are kernels of truth that merit further exploration.
    Customer image
    Angela
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A Wonderful Book with a very interesting History

    Reviewed in Spain on December 21, 2023
    Physically talking, the book is worth buying, containing detailed maps, illustrations, and at the end, a Chronology and a Pronunciation Guide to Key Irish Words.

    When I embarked on this book, 'How the Irish Saved Civilization' by Thomas Cahill, I was skeptical about the bold claim encapsulated in its title. Was Cahill using hyperbole, or was there substance to the notion of the Irish playing a pivotal role in saving civilization? While the title might seem grandiose, the narrative unfolds into a fascinating exploration of a lesser-known part of history that, if true, carries profound implications.

    The book commences with an examination of the Fall of the Roman Empire, attributing its decline to reasons like indolence, decadence, and disease. Cahill contends that amid this collapse, the invaluable libraries of Ancient Rome and its wealth of learning faced imminent peril. The invading barbarian hordes, being pagan and illiterate, posed a significant threat to the preservation of knowledge.

    Enter the Irish, whose role in rescuing Western civilization forms the crux of Cahill's narrative. The author recounts a condensed version of St. Patrick's history and highlights how Irish abbots and monks ventured across the continent, reviving Christianity in places where it had waned or never taken root. They meticulously copied manuscripts, preserving classical texts through generations, often when they were lost elsewhere. Cahill emphasizes their use of the vernacular Irish language, even providing a Pronunciation Guide at the end of the book. The influence of Plato's philosophical texts is also explored.

    If Cahill's assertions are accurate, Irish monks played a pivotal role in saving civilization by safeguarding classical literature. As the Dark Age gave way to the Medieval Age, these Irish scholars disseminated the knowledge they had preserved throughout Europe. The very idea that such a significant historical event is not more widely known raises doubts. Shouldn't an event of such magnitude be a more prominent part of historical discourse?

    Compounding the uncertainty is the fact that Cahill himself is not a historian. While this isn't inherently problematic, as compelling histories and biographies can be written by journalists, the best ones typically include exhaustive notes and sources to substantiate their claims—something notably absent in this case.

    After completing the book, I find myself grappling with uncertainty. The overarching premise—that Irish monks saved civilization by preserving classical literature—feels dubious. However, the narrative is compelling, and certain aspects resonate with logic. Perhaps, amid the uncertainties, there are kernels of truth that merit further exploration.
    Images in this review
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  • Deschamps
    5.0 out of 5 stars Passionnant
    Reviewed in France on June 4, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Très bonne description des faits historiques
    Report
  • R. M. Williams
    5.0 out of 5 stars a bypassed gem
    Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2006
    Verified Purchase
    I've heard much about the book over the years. But it really isn't a period of history that i am particularily interested in, so i never followed up on the hearing about it to buy a copy. So it got into that list of book:"if you trip over a copy, pick it up and read it". It ought to have been in the "must read now" list. I'm sorry i postponed reading it and don't really understand why, i wonder how many other gems i know about but haven't looked at.

    sure wish
    "God doesn't deduct from man's allotted time, the time spent reading"...but i know better.

    IT was a joy to read, from clever word choices to hints of big ideas long suppressed or overlooked in the usual historical textbooks, a hint of esoteric knowledge hidden from mere mortals.

    The major themes are probably at least partial true, but after finishing the book, i'm not sure it matters, it is just an engrossing story told by a very competent and interesting storyteller. That is the great strength of the book, it is a tale well and interestingly told.

    There is one thing i'd like to specially follow up on in my reading. That is how the Irish "temper" modified the "Roman" and yielded a different kind of Christianity as the Irish monks carried their books back into Europe. This is the theme of Celtic Christianity that i see occasionally as i browse bookstores for the new and interesting. The problem, for me, is that it is a nearly cultic topic that consists of a lot of trash to be waded through to find the gems.

    So like the best of books, it engrosses and allows you to loose yourself in the reading and causes new ideas to bubble up and supply incentive to go to the library and get more. My highest recommendation which is "give to the wife and tell her to read it".....

    one of the very best things about amazon reviews are emails from people who read the review.

    i received an interesting note about this review and thought i'd include my response to it here, so i edited the review and added to it.

    this is not an historical epoch i am particularly well read in. which is why i didn't spend time talking about the historical facts but rather spoke about style and how i was effected by the book. to see if the book is historical fiction or good history writing is beyond both my abilities and my current interests. at this point, i'm content to classify it as a jolly good read and move on to the next book in my TBR pile.

    did the Irish save civilization?
    i don't know. does it matter?

    history interests me yet isn't always a definitive subject like physics. there is more than a little room for interpretation. what is best about the book is the style and engrossingly interesting reading. to understand the issues will require several more books that concentrate on the details of the issues and not, like this book, on convincing people of the big issue.

    thanks for reading the review. and please share anything about the book to rwilliam2@yahoo.com subject book reviews (to get past spam filters) especially about my research question above concerning celtic christianity and how it might differ from the more intellectual roman variation that won the day.
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  • tiz tiz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Da leggere
    Reviewed in Italy on September 7, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Un arricchimento incredibile, witty e profondissimo - da leggere con attenzione!
    Report
  • 洋书の友
    4.0 out of 5 stars アイルランド人の心をくすぐるヨーロッパ初期教会史
    Reviewed in Japan on April 11, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    アイルラン人が文明を救った？！と意表を突くタイトルで、米国アマゾンブック?レヴュー数も500以上！かつ评価も高く！！という訳で読んでみたら、ローマ帝国崩壊から8世纪顷までのキリスト教会史でした。ただ、こまかい傍証を省いた司马辽太郎风记述で読みやすい。初め、圣アウグスチヌスの话が长く、？？？だったが、これは前座で、真打はアイルランドの守护圣人、圣パトリックだ。彼が蛮族の海に饮み込まれるローマからアイルランドに渡り、その地にローマのキリスト教文明を伝え、栄えさせ、后継者たちが逆に输出することになった。圣パトリックが创立した僧院では彻底的に写本に取り组んだために、本家のローマでは失われた贵重なギリシャ?ローマの文书が后世に伝えられることになった由、感谢せねばハイ。圣パトリックの布教に际し、殉教者がいなかったことは兴味深い。土俗宗教と融合?すみ分けしたのだろう。その為、アイルランド教会独特の性格が形成されたのだろう。ハロウィーンのような。着者は勿论アイルランド人で、内容プラス民族爱に诉えての大ヒットか???
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