CHAP. x. RISE OF MAHOMETAN POWER. 235 



CHAPTER X. 



On the production of the precious metals from the dissolution 

 of the western Roman empire to the discovery of America. 



THE century which passed over between 

 the dissolution of the western empire and the 

 appearance of Mahomet was one of agitation 

 and confusion. The eastern empire was rapidly 

 declining : the tribes who afterwards formed the 

 kingdoms of western Europe were yet unsettled 

 in the territories they had acquired, and had 

 assumed no form of civil policy. No posses- 

 sions were secure to individuals ; and in such 

 a state of society, if mining was carried on, it 

 must have been to obtain the inferior metals 

 rather than gold and silver. The compendious 

 value of the precious metals would present 

 temptations to violence which must have been 

 irresistible to hordes of undisciplined and fero- 

 cious warriors. 



When the Mahometan power arose, its aspect 

 was sufficiently terrific to continue the suspen- 

 sion of the mines. The precious metals were 

 sought not by exploring the bowels of the earth, 

 but by the more summary process of conquest, 

 tribute, and plunder. 



