New-York tribune., 1896-12-26
MEDIEVALISM.
NEW HISTORY SHOWING 1T AS
PROCESS OF EVOLUTION.

EuTHtdh Tbatdhcr IN Ph. B.. and Ferdinand schw Ph D.
NTH Maps and Charts. PIP. XII, oS NH"'io'
Scrihncr's Sons.
This is an admirable book. and one OF "'oe'
utility than its preface suggests. The general
reader who cares for just and temperate views
ahou, the medieval period will find the "orh
as convenient for him for the students "no
are expected to use it as a textbook Its Key
note is found In the remarks that the Miuu's
Ages had a civilization of their own oeVeiopeu
naturally from preceding forms OF culture III
Eurone and that the Renaissance, so-caiied
was no sudden CLEAN out OF thousand years
Of darkness 1t inherited, but 1t did not ue
stroy medaevalism. The major anu 'he ".'
ter part Of that which had been eVoiNeo Wy '"o
contact OF German and Celtic and Turanian
sayagcs with Greek and Roman ciViiza''oii
was retained by IT, so that 1.-The social orgah'-
zation Of Europe is still largely ieuua' III ''
fundamental ideas"
Taking the Continent as whole, the move
ment of civilization was forward and never
backward single step from the faH OF 'he
Roman Empire to the discovery OF America
The domain of learning broadened from century
TO century. At one time only a traction Oh '".
clergy were capable Of occupying the piaoe Vi
the lettered classes Of the ancient E'ip'e'
Later all the clergy were practically Ua'iieu !"
the book knowledge CT the times Then the 'io-
h,l,tv descendants OF those old warriors who
despised and yet yielded TO the letters ana cNi''-
zation of Rome took to study on their OWN a'-
count creating literatures in the SPOKEN '"
guages of Europe. while the monks were pei'''
Ing a Latin style which is to this DAY more "'
,ractive reading than much OF the classics or
than any Latin written since the Renaissah'e'
1t was picturesque and it was repete with 'he
Of
Il was written Even the chronicles ana an
nails have a charm of their own to the authors
OF this book. who at the same time turn from
the Cceronian clegancies of Petrarch ana HIS
Successors with the remark that nobody reaus
them now. The nobility having taken to htera-
ture It was not long before the men OF 'he
common people began also TO study ana ~
write.
The same process is seen in other realms vi
the medieval world. Pressure from without
and foresight within constrain the Churc" "
organize itself. AS long as the Baroariahs re-
main Barharians they need and appreciate 'n'
strength of the Church But as they gro" !"
civilization they press everywhere against '"'
bounds that have been put to their activi'ies'
II is tho same with imperialism. They start
with a notion of its necessity. But gradually
they deprive it of one attribute after announcer
until it becomes mere skeleton among 'he
nations Again, the ancient warrior deFeiops
into the mail-clad knight. The elaborate eur
ouette of chivalrv rises out of the rude begin
nings Of tribal and private warfare but 'he
serf is rising also When he becomes free
man he must bear the arms OF his class Inc
icnoble English archers destroy the flower or
French knighthood at Agincourt. and the SWISS
nikemen roll back the Hapsburg from the
stones of the Alps Military prowess ceases To
he the possession OF a class just as iearhihs
does and feudalism, which was indispehsaoe
10 the more savage times. gradually ceases 10
dominat. the political ideas OF men, Inc soc'a'
system wdens to take in people VINO were oi''1
reckoned little better than brutes Reason "e-
gins TO claim the attention which at one tme
was accorded only to force and TO superstition.
The world accommodates itself to this new
demand The meagre monastic and catheorai
school gives way TO the nascent university the
stout old barons find the growing cities anu
the despised merchant and artisan too strong
for them Thus the Renaissance does not be-
gin in day. 1t Is merely the GROWING TACT
IN series. the logical result of processes which
had been going on for centuries IL Is Sig
rallied by inventions and discoveries of vast
import. but the ages that preceded had a'so
their inventions suited to their needs Those
ages had n civilization not varied. but brilliant.
They were dominated by few ideas, put those
were the ones which In all ages men cherish
most To them poetry. romance, rehglon anu
history look back with sympathy that 10
sometimes disguised but always genuine Such'
in brief is the estimate of the Middle Ages
which Dr. Thatcher and Dr. Schwill give IN
place of much that has been written In the
past They are obliged to be compact. but they
have told their story we'll with keen eyes 1or
every incident and every character that were
effective In advancing medieval culture toward
modern ideals.