The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-01-05
Ancient History.
No. 3.

| Ancient civilization reached the height of its
glory under the Roman Empire. Why the
world should relapse into barbarisln so soon
after the adoption of Christianity and remain
for so many centuries, is question worthy of
our careful consideration. 1t is an undSput-
| able fact that ancient civilization was developed
in ignorance and superstition. Although there
has ever been germ of truth lurking in the
secret corners of the earth, it was suppressed
| in the manufacture of the ancient fabric Of
| civilization, and Socrates, one of the wsest of
| men, was condemned to death by the ancient
Greeks. The majority OF the ruling class aim
ed at vain show and present personal interests.
Hence every appear ancc of a nobIer impulse
was crushed until the Roman world became too
| corrupt to stand though 10 foreign hand had
assailed it. The introduction of a pure form of
morals like that embraced in Christianity could
not be expected to take immediate effect suf
ficient to renovate such mass of decayng
corruption But rather those ancient rulers,
who allowed every reformer to be slain, must
pass away, and their civilization with them, and
the vandals of the north are allowed to CLEAN
the fields of ancient civilization and gather the
germs Of truth which have been lying dormant
beneath the surface of ancient ,plendor. These
germs are nc. more appreciated by the barbarian
than by the vain and pompous Roman. This is
the terminating period of truth and Chri>tiau-
ity. Each of the succeeding generations through
the Dark Ages imbibe something of it, truth
and teachings until finally truth trunphs and
healthful progress is possible. To produce the
ed free from any gross evils and every faculty
of mind and body should be developed 10 its ut
most capacity. Hence the impracticalilty Of
changing those stern old warriors of Rome into
an intelligent Christian nation. But rather the
ancient fabric of civilization must fall into the
earth and die and the good seed sprang up in
due season, and after having been faithfully
cultivated by many 4 father of early days is
now bearing fruit.
While the Roman Empire was overwhelmed
and crushed by the NisigothS in 47G. when Odo-
acer was made king OF Italy, an eastern branch
of the old Empire escaped the great convulsion
and eked ont a miserable existence for a thou
sand years with its capital at Coustantnople.
The Nsigoths We're conquered by the Ostro-
goths in 493 These were in turn conquered by
the old Eastern or Byzantine Empire. Italy
was governed by EXarchs from Constantinople
until another TeHtonir leugc came pouring in-
to Italy from the north in l6S. The Iomhar,is
occupied the greater part of Italy but the By
zantine Empire retained the southern part for
200 years. Desiderious, the last of the Lom-
bard kings. was made prisoner by Charleinagne
in IA. France may be said to have origi-
mated when the Franks under Clovis fixed their
capital at Paris in 501. The Franki>h kings
gradually lost their power and the real power
passed into the hands of the Mayor of the
Palace who was chosen by the noblcs. One Of
the most celebrated of the Mayors Of the Palace
was Charles Martc. who defeated the Saracens
in 1lJ2 and thus saved all Europe from Moham-
metan rule. Charles Martel> son Pepin sue
cee,led his father as Mayor of the Palace. He
shut up the king in convent and was himself
anonted king il ,53. Thus began the Carlow
ingian dynasty. Pepn was succeeded by his
son Charle!na@ne, one of the few men At whose
name all Europe wa, made to trenible. Britain,
like other Roman provinces. had adopted the
Latin language, but the Teutonic invaders drove
the natives to the mountains and did not min
gle with them and learn their language as they
did in France, Spain and Italy. Hence the
English language does not mbibe the principles
of Latin so much As most other modern lal.-
Sua@es do The principle invading tribes We're
Angles and SaXon> Hence the blended dia-
lectS took the name of Angio-SaXon and the
land was called England or land of Angles
Early in the 9th century the various petty
tribes and kingdoms united un der Egbert IA
contemporary of Charlemagne.
Mohammed was born III Mecca in Arabia $40
A. ID. lie was an enterpri>ing merchant but
thought he had Divine commission to reform
the faith of the Arabian nation. lie started
on his conGuerng career in G22 and within ten
years the whole penin>ular acknowledged him
As their sovereign. The Mohammehlu, met
with little resistance in the East, but when they
besieged Constantinople they We're unable TO
overcome the torrents OF Greek fire. though
they continued the siege for eight wears. They
met with a like result in second attempt 70
years later. They met with stout resistance
in North Africa, but finally succeeded. In 10
host OF Arabs crossed into Spain and suhdued
the Nisigoths who had established a Kingdom
there. Ina few years they crossed the Pyrances
and We're moving on vietorou>ly until they
We're repulSed by Charles Marte in 49, as al
ready stated. This forever checked the pro-
gress of Mohamme,an arms. but the Kingdom
established in Spain lasted for 100 wears.
Though Mohammedan>m is not desirable yet
1t was an Improvement on those Dark \ ecS.
While all Europe was sunk in harhari>m and
ignorance these Saracens We're engaged i'll the
cultivation OF science and art.
When Charomagne succeeded hi, father,
Pepin. in the land Of the Franks or France,
England was not yet united in one government
under Eghert Spain was ruled hy the Mos
lens or Mohammedans. Italy was div >iti.. he
tween the Lombar,ls and the Byzantine En-
pire. Charemagne was ambitious to rc-cst:b-
lishthe old Roman Empire. lie was Fi@ol
Gus and energetic Teuton. He cherished all
the venerable institutions of his countrymen
and entered warmly into the educational and
church work of Rome. His first efforts We're
directed toward the Teutonic tribes of Ger
many or Central Europe. They We're still
pagans, while the tribes who had settled within
the limits of the old Roman Empire had made
considerable progress in civilization during
nearly four centuries that had passed since the
fall of the Empire. On Christmas day 800 A.
d., Charlemagne was crowned Emperor of the
West by the Pope. He had at this time con-
quered the Moslems in Spain and the tombar,ls
in Italy and his little kingdom had become as
large AS the old Western Roman Empire.
Charemagne spent the last years of his life in
improving the condition Of his people. He
hated drunkenness and was a liberal patron of
learning. He died in s14 and his heirs were
not fitted for the government Of such mighty
nation.
In S43, by treaty made at Ncr,lun, France.
Germany and Italy became separate nations
and each began a national history. The COLI
dition of society at this time was pcculiar-t to
that age of the world. BY the Fculal System,
Kings made grants Of large tracts of the con-
quered lands to their favorites These mobiles
in order to protect themselves granted portions
to vassals on condition that they assist when-
ever their services are needed. Those who
held ficfs from the King We're obliged to attend
his court and to assist in case of war with
certain number of men. Others who held
fiefs under great lords We're obliged to appear
at his castle when summoned and to render
military service. The GREAT mass of tbe naonla