8 



THE OPAL SEA 



The rise of 

 Islam. 



Renais- 

 aa nee com- 

 7nerce. 



Mediterranean had known its rider; and long 

 before the Caesars passed away a shrewd knowl- 

 edge of navigation had been attained. 



Then followed that period of history known 

 as the Dark Ages when human energy seemed 

 crushed under the ruins of Eome, and civiliza- 

 tion for centuries lay still in a long swoon. 

 The Goth ruled all the western shores of the 

 Mediterranean but with no love for the sea; 

 and the Eastern Empire was too badly crip- 

 pled to battle successfully in hollow ships 

 against Homeric elements. But a stronger 

 power was rising in the East and moving west- 

 ward like a tidal wave. Year by year the Mos- 

 lem Empire spread until it embraced Syria, 

 Egypt, the northern shores of Africa, Sicily, 

 Sardinia, and Spain. The star and the crescent 

 were in the ascendant, and Islam dominated 

 the realm of waters as it did the realm of 

 thought. 



Slowly Europe roused from her long stupor. 

 The old trade with the Orient was resumed and 

 the colored sails of Italy went drifting along 

 the Dalmatian coast and through the Greek 

 islands to the East. The courts of Europe 

 had groMTi luxurious in a barbaric way; and 

 Venice, Florence, and Genoa were supplying 

 tliem with silks, stuffs, spices, perfumes, jew- 



