THE 'DARK AGES: 97 



Attila, the ' Scourge of God.' With an immense army, 

 the greater portion of which was cavalry, he invaded and 

 laid under tribute the Roman empire, but not before 

 devastating many of its provinces. After his death, this 

 wandering people, who appear to have been largely com- 

 posed of Kalmuck or Mongol Tatars, were without a 

 leader, and, being broken up, formed themselves into a 

 number of petty states, which continued to maintain their 

 independence until the close of the eighth century, when 

 they were subdued by Charlemagne. During these and 

 subsequent centuries, well termed the ' Dark Ages,' learn- 

 ing was at a low ebb, because of the disturbed condition 

 of the civilized world, and the overthrow of kings and 

 dynasties by the irruptions of these strange and less than 

 semi-barbarous nations, who swept away or destroyed in 

 their progress nearly e\ery thing valuable to future ages, 

 leaving only the more salient and remarkable historical 

 facts to be imperfectly described by a few monks or 

 refugees. These were, for the most part, buried in cloisters 

 or secluded spots, and had but few opportunities, even if 

 they possessed the inclination or ability, to note the various 

 changes which befell many of the arts, or chronicle those 

 which appeared for the first time. So that it is not to be 

 wondered at that the annalists of those days should be 

 silent with regard to these foot defences, and that the first 

 intimation of their existence should only be given at so 

 late a date as the ninth century. 



The change of designation which was formerly em- 

 ployed to indicate the coverings for the feet, ^apl^anvott, 

 ex^arai, solece, and <7r7ro7re8r]^, was that which first led 



investigators to the conclusion that our present method of 



7 



