(330 THE CRUSADES. 



Alhazen on refraction demonstrates their cultivation of the methods of 

 physical experiment and observation, and their application of the pendu- 

 lum to the measurement of time is even yet acknowledged to be the most 

 perfect contrivance for that purpose. 



In estimating the value of the influence which the Mohammedans ex- 

 erted upon the European mind, we recognize its specific similarity to 

 that which, more than a thousand years before, had been communicated 

 from the schools of Egypt under its Macedonian kings, and even, still 

 centuries before that, at the time of the opening of the Egyptian ports. 

 In all three cases the tendency imparted was to the cultivation of the 

 physical sciences, then in their infancy, and thereby to the increase of 

 the material power of the race. In a very short time, inventions which 

 have been of the utmost importance made their appearance, such as gun- 

 powder, the mariner's compass, and various optical instruments. It is 

 of no moment whether these were introduced by the enterprise of the 

 Arabs from Asia or whether they were of indigenous origin ; there can 

 be no doubt that the intellect of Europe had reached that peculiar phase, 

 and the tendency of thought was in that particular direction that, even 

 if these discoveries had not been communicated from abroad, they would 

 very soon have been made at home. 



The Mohammedan attacks on Europe were retaliated by the Crusades. 

 These strange wars, into which the white race plunged, were 



The Crusades. . -, -, , -A 111 



instigated by the Koman government toward the close ot 

 the eleventh century, and were followed by consequences which their pro- 

 jectors never expected. They precipitated barbarian Europe upon Asia, 

 under the pretense of rescuing the Savior's tomb from the infidel, but in 

 reality to keep back the threatened tide of Saracenic invasion, and to di- 

 vert from Italy the restless military spirit that was every where engen- 

 dering. No other motive than the one thus ostensibly put forth could 

 have brought the ferociously independent hordes of Europe to act to- 

 gether. It had been well if, in ancient times, the emperors had been in 

 possession of so useful a device ; it might have saved the city from some 

 sieges and sacks. As it was, the turbulent stream was thrown upon the 

 Byzantine monarchs to their utter perplexity. The Saracens received 

 it with amazement. The ostensible causes which had set in motion such 

 a countless rabble of stupid barbarians were absolutely incomprehensi- 

 ble by them. In their invasions of Europe they had carried the light 

 of such science as they possessed, but in this counter invasion of Asia 

 they were repaid with the most besotted ignorance. 



The Crusaders found that the infidel they had come so far to encoun- 

 influeaceofthe ter w ^ nout provocation was valiant and polished, in many 

 Crusades ou cases merciful and just. Their ideas of the Asiatics under- 

 went a great change after they had been in contact with 



