Celtic contribution to European culture during the early middle ages

Abstract

In dealing with the cultural conditions in Ireland during the early Middle Ages this discussion will concern itself with four main phases. In the first place an attempt will be made to show that the conditions under which mediaeval culture flourished were, in comparison to the conditions of Continental Europe, unique. An explanation for this unique development will be offered wherein it will be shown that the Irish, by temperament, by previous training and by their geographical position were the logical preservers of European culture during the 'Dark Ages'. In the second place St. Patrick and his associates will be assigned a definite place in the history of European culture. Special emphasis will also be laid upon their work as forerunners of the monastic schools and classical scholarship. Next a brief history of the early monastic schools will be given, with accompanying illustrations selected from typical saints and scholars of the 'Period. The last part of the chapter will be devoted to a discussion of actual evidences of classical scholarship in Ireland during the early Middle Ages.