When Rome fell, most of Europe was taken over by various types of supposed barbarians who did burn or otherwise destroy much of the records of Greek and Roman culture and civilization; this pretty much led to the Dark Ages and the thousand years of stagnation, superstition, and the system of princes and clergy which ruled the continent. But wait, Ireland was moving the other way - from barbarism to civilization, thanks to Patrick and others. Records and other forms of knowledge were saved from oblivion by the Irish' comparatively tolerant thirst for knowledge, literature, whatever, and their tireless copying and development of anything they could find from the old days.

Effortlessly presented, engaging, and interesting.