The independent., 1903-12-10
A Review ef Del
M ar's I" nlddie
Ages RevIsitel."
Rome: The Mother Of States


have written as much would have cost
the historian his life, subjected his
relatives to Punishment and confis-
Gated his and their patrimonies.
Our author shows upon body Of
evidence drawn largely from contem-
poraqeous inscriptions, coins and Gus
toms, that it was upon this pivot, the
worship of the Caesars, that turned
the history of Rome for centuries;
because even after the impious belief
was rejected by the educated classes,
IL was cherished by the vulgar. Yet
only the faintest allusiors to 1t will
be found in our standard works OF
reference. In Mr.. Del Mars work it
is brought into relief. 1t is then per-
ceived that the true grandeur of Chris
tianfty and the moral lessons of its
conquest over paganism have been
hidden from the light by a false his
tory of the Roman religion and it's
development. mo greater struggle
aas ever fought and none SO belit-
tied by petty conceits and fables. Not
only this, but if the edifice by which
the aims of civilization are supported,
continues to be poised upon the flimsy
foundations which the medieval monks
constructed, it is exposed to the risk
OF being injured by the attacks which
modern criticism and satire may make
upon these childish and vulnerable
elements"
Passing from the religion to the
civil institutes of the Roman empire,
the author challenges the accepted
origin and spirit of the feudal system.
The views of Robertson, Hallam, Gui-
zot, Buckle, Bishop Stubs and 9TH
ers, are examined with justice and
acumen that belong to the highest or
der of historical criticism. Their at
tribution Of feudalism to barbarian
origin, their fixing it upon the basis Of
military service, their treatment of
beneticium and commendatio, are scat
tered into thin air. Feudal systems
have been found in India, Japan,
Egypt, and Mexico, countries which
had nothing in common with the in
stitutions of medieval Europe, except
their hierarchical governments. Feud-
alism is even to be discerned In the
early days of the Roman empire, in
the charters of julius and Augustus,
in the laws of Diocletian and Justin
ian, in the land tenures ana customs
whose roots were buried in tie Sacred
College of paganism. We will not d.
vest our author of the interest with
which h. has invested this problem
by anticipating its solution. We rec
ommend it's treatment as the best
specimen of historical writing which
has appeared since the publication of
Gibbons immortal work.
The Institutes of the Roman en-
pire; the rise of Christianity; the
Christianization of these institutes;
the rise of the medieval empire; the
lost treaty of Seltz (between Charlie
magne and Nicephorls, defining their
respective boundaries, powers and
prerogatives); the constitution of the
medieval Germany empire; the fall
1904; the Guelf and Ghibelline wars;
and the legal and actual position of
the Roman provinces during these
changes, are told with force of die
tion, an elegance of style and wealth
of illustration, which leaves nothing
to be desired by the reader. The work
Is revelation. 1t proves that the
archaeological fin1s of the past half
century have placed at our command a
store of learning which only needs
scholarship, mental digestion and
charm of style to render it of absorb
ing interest and practical value to
the reading world. These are the ma
terials which our author brings TO his
great task. The scaffolding of the
work is hid from sight; one sees only
the perfected edifice, in which there
are no awkward joints, no evidences of
patching, no tiresome digressions, no
secondhand evidences, no unneces-
sary foot-notes. A perfect grasp and
critical sitting of origina. evidences;
ripe judgment In the selection and
arrangement OF materials; modest,
but complete. mastery of his subject:
thorough assimilation OF It's elements:
and praetlced hand In welding the
pen. Such are the impressions which
the work conveys; q work which we
venture 10 say must place its author
upon very high literary pedestal.
There IN but one fault we have 10 |
lind with II. lts title. In full. In The
Middle Ages Revisited or the Roman