A Manual of Medieval and Modern History (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from A Manual of Medieval and Modern HistoryMedieval history covers the thousand years which divide the breaking up Of the Roman dominion in the West from the formation of the modern European States-system, near the close of the fifteenth century. This interval between the Old order and the new may, how ever, be conveniently viewed ia two widely contrasted periods. During the first six hundred years, the forces which tend to anarchy and disso lution were apparently the stronger, excepting while they were held in check by the genius of Charlemagne. These six centuries are known as the Dark Ages. Their chief events were the migrations of the northern tribes; the repulse of the Saracens, who aimed to annex Europe to the dominion of the Caliphs; the revival of the Western Empire, and the rise of the Feudal System.The next four centuries are more properly called the Middle Ages. They are marked by greater activity Of the tendencies to order and civilization: tribes settle into nations the remnant of the migratory impulse expending itself in pilgrimages and crusades; languages are developed and improved; chivalry refines the manners of the warrior, but itself declines, as’feudal chiefs become subject to consolidated mon archies; learning is diffused, and industry attains something of its just dignity and importance.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.