As wars destroyed schools and libraries across Italy, one Roman official began copying ancient books and helped save centuries of knowledge from disappearing

Cassiodorus, a Roman official, founded the Vivarium monastery in sixth-century Italy to preserve ancient texts.

Monks at Vivarium copied and translated manuscripts, saving religious and secular writings from destruction during the Gothic War.

Cassiodorus served as Praetorian Prefect under Ostrogothic ruler Theodoric the Great before leaving politics.

His efforts preserved works on history, philosophy, ethics, and literature that remain influential today.