Ireland An Expansion through T
Ireland An Expansion through TIreland: An Expansion through Time
The Romans were the first true force to convert to Christianity. During their reign they would conquer and command heathen tribes into obeying this new found religion. However, the Roman Empire would decay, disappear and then it was left to another group to take over. The Irish would eventually become a driving force behind Christianity; peaceably converting and forming new ideas and thought behind the religion itself. Thus, the Irish unknowingly save civilization.
To put things in perspective, first one must know some background information. For it was Augustine who brought about the need for explanations. Augustine in his search for answers set up libraries with histories, philosophy, and legends. These libraries would become the treasure of classical knowledge and the basis for thought that would follow. Augustine constantly was questioning beliefs and always reforming them to suit his new state of mind. For instance Augustine�s beliefs on religion were quite exploratory.
To absolve himself from his lust of the fine flesh he abandoned Catholicism for Manicheism, which had the aspects of �a little Christian symbolism, a large dose of Zoroastrian dualism, and some of the quiet refinements of Buddhism. (49)�. Although this would not satisfy his intellectual hunger and he would move onto studying the works of Plato and Socrates. In the end though he would come across the letters of a Jew named Paul who would show him the light of the Christian god. Thus, he would purify his soul, absolve his past sins, and � submit himself to the death of the flesh through baptism-and to the Christian God. (58)�
At this same time 4th Century Ireland was not as nearly educated as Augustine of that time was. Ireland was a barbaric nation, which in essence paralleled the famous epic poem Beowulf. It was a society in which wealth determined the ruling factor and histories were kept in the way of the oral tradition. Through stories such as Tain Bo Cuailnge, The Cattle Raid of Cooley, one is shown what Ireland might have been like and through heroes such as Deirdre and Cuchulainn one can idealize what the Irish pagan ways were.
In the Tain one finds the characters of Medb and Ailil of who are trying to find out who has more wealth to insure the power of the other. The final decision comes down to a prize bull that lives in Ailil�s pastures because he can�t stand to be under the rule of a woman, therefore Ailil the King has more power. Medb determined to win though seeks the help out of a neighboring ally. The ally agrees but in the end the deal goes bad and we are introduced to the famous warrior Cuchulainn. Cuchulainn defeats Medb and shows again the fact that men are...
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