Classical and Secular Learning among the Irish before the Carolingian Renaissance
Michael W. Herren
Any paper on the old topic of Irish learning in Dark Ages, a question to which so many erudite books and articles have been devoted, requires some kind explanation from writer, especially when he does not intend present very much way new evidence. To put matters succinctly, reason for this foray into familiar territory is methodological one. The state early mediaeval Ireland has long vexed by confusions. most serious these certain fuzziness regarding "classical learning," semper et ubique refers direct study best literary products Greek Roman civilizations up about second century A.D., "secular based upon learning" intimately bound up, but identical, with it. Secular embraces host non-theological subjects more or less identical liberal arts form they were transmitted handbooks Middle Ages. includes, addition canonical seven nine arts, numerous topics that make "natural science" (including geography, ethnography, even areas history, i.e., social sciences today). Classical secular maintained their close association each other until end antiquity, gradually became divorced. Bede could write his De Schematibus Tropis without reference classical literature, as we shall argue, studied Vergilian commentaries knowing much, if anything, Vergil.
Florilegium