310 HISTORY OF BOTANY. 



in the dark ages, who pretended to any knowledge of plants, 

 only quoted from the Greek and Roman writers, but they were 

 ignorant even of the principles of tin- lan^un^i-s in which their 

 works were written. In the 15th century Italy was governed 

 by wise princes, who were influenced by a desire to promote 

 knowledge among their people. They invited to their country 

 learned men from Greece, from whom they might learn the 

 language of Homer and Aristotle. 



At this time the Turks threatened Constantinople, and that 

 capital of the empire of the East at length fell into their hands. 

 The literature of Greece now took refuge in Italy ; the ancient 

 languages were revived, and at this time translations of ancient 

 writers, with learned commentaries, were given. But these 

 labours, although exercising an important influence upon litera- 

 ture, were not equally fortunate with respect to the progress of 

 natural history. The learned writings of antiquity were accu- 

 rately studied, but blinded by the brilliancy of great names, 

 men of learning looked not upon nature ; they had yet to learn, 

 that without examining and comparing real objects, there can 

 be no solid foundation in natural history. 



At the period of which we are now speaking, a physician of 

 Germany published some indifferent descriptions of plants, ac- 

 companied by a few engravings. This connexion of drawing 

 and botany, although the whole was badly executed, \v as con- 

 sidered as an important improvement in the science. 



While Italy was thus a second time enriched with the litera- 

 ry treasures of Greece, Spain and Portugal were heeominir en- 

 lightened by intercourse with foreign nations. The Portuguese 

 extended their voyages to the western coasts of Africa, and the 

 Cape do Verd islands; the Cape of Good Hope was at length 

 discovered, and Vasco, de Gama, sailing around this cape, 

 reached the East Indies. It was at this period that Christopher 

 Columbus discovered the NEW WORLD. 



This event, so important to the old world, is to us who in- 

 habit this pleasant and favoured country, one of deep interest. 

 Ages upon ages passed on after the world was created, and 

 America remained, with regard to the Eastern continent, as 

 though she existed not. The lofty Andes raised their snowy 

 heads to the clouds, the majestic Amazon rolled onwards to the 

 Atlantic, our lakes spread out their vast expanse of waters, our 

 own Hudson and Connecticut received their tributary streams, 

 and bore them to the ocean; but to what people were these 

 grandeurs presented, and what had been the changes in the 



Constantinople taken by the Turks, and the literature of Greece transferred 

 to Italy New World discovered What was the history of America before 

 this period ? 



