A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



be but one answer to that question. Oriental super- 

 stition cast its blight upon the fair field of science, 

 whatever compensation it may or may not have 

 brought in other fields. But we must be on our 

 guard lest we overestimate or incorrectly estimate this 

 influence. Posterity, in glancing backward, is al- 

 ways prone to stamp any given age of the past with 

 one idea, and to desire to characterize it with a single 

 phrase; whereas in reality all ages are diversified, and 

 any generalization regarding an epoch is sure to do 

 that epoch something less or something more than 

 justice. We may be sure, then, that the ideal of 

 ecclesiasticism is not solely responsible for the scien- 

 tific stasis of the dark age. Indeed, there was another 

 influence of a totally different character that is too 

 patent to be overlooked the influence, namely, of the 

 economic condition of western Europe during this 

 period. As I have elsewhere pointed out, 2 Italy, the 

 centre of western civilization, was at this time impov- 

 erished, and hence could not provide the monetary 

 stimulus so essential to artistic and scientific no less 

 than to material progress. There were no patrons of 

 science and literature such as the Ptolemies of that 

 elder Alexandrian day. There were no great libraries ; 

 no colleges to supply opportunities and afford stimuli 

 to the rising generation. Worst of all, it became in- 

 creasingly difficult to secure books. 



This phase of the subject is often overlooked. Yet 

 a moment's consideration will show its importance. 

 How should we fare to-day if no new scientific books 

 were being produced, and if the records of former 

 generations were destroyed? That is what actually 



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