82 Timehri. 



counted higher than the depth of the thought expressed. However, this 

 aestheticism produced great power of artistic criticism. From the Pope 

 down to the man in the street every Italian was a judge of art. 



Another very important characteristic was love of the Antique ; and 

 the cult of the ancient history of Greece and Rome, at hrst uncritical and 

 undiscriminating, it ultimately produced the Revival of Learning, and the 

 development known as Humanism. 



If we are tempted to think that there were guiding principles on 

 clearly defined lines, we are soon undeceived for inconsistency was a 

 striking feature. Perhaps it was because the old order was changing and 

 the new had not yet settled down. The anomalous position of the Pope 

 was the most striking of all the examples of inconsistency. Serious and 

 religious men denounced him for worldly abuse of power, and were yet 

 willing to kiss his foot as God's Vicar, and to plead for absolution from 

 him who held the keys of Heaven. Sixtus IV. founded the Vatican 

 library and built the chapel which is named after him, and which is to-day 

 one of the glories of the world, and yet broke up the wonderful collec- 

 tion of cameos and medals which his predecessor had brought together. 

 Few men did more than Pope Nicholas V. to beautify the City of Rome ; 

 S. Peter's and the Vatican are standing monuments to his name ; and yet 

 for his new buildings he pulled down ancient Roman temples and used 

 the Coliseum as a quarry. There was indeed nothing so consistent as 

 the inconsistency of the Renaissance. 



Now we come to the two great achievements which were the dis- 

 covery of the World and the discovery of Man. The former meant not 

 only the exploration of the globe, but also scientific discoveries and 

 inventions ; and the latter the discovery of man in political, intellectual 

 a nd spiritual matters ; each of these should be considered separately. 



The main motives for the outburst of exploring energy were the 

 crusading spirit, trade and love of adventure, the last being typical of the 

 burning desire to be free from cramping boundaries. Greek astronomers 

 had known of the spherical shape of the earth, but apparently through 

 overestimating the breadth of Europe and Asia, the idea was to seek the 

 east by sailing west. The idea died out and was neglected. But as we 

 have already seen, the fall of Constantinople brought about the need of 

 finding new routes for the acquisition of trade and still more for the 

 spread of Christianity. It must be remembered that th3 crusading spirit 

 was a very real one, and all sorts of religious orders were founded for 

 spreading the Gospel in distant lands. But what practically drew ex- 

 plorers eastward was the belief that somewhere in the centre of Asia was 

 a big Christian kingdom, which, if joined up with European Christendom, 

 might be a powerful ally to attack the Moslem iu the rear, and the wildest 

 legends had grown up round the name of the great Christian Khan, the 

 semi-mythical Prester John. The position of his kingdom was constantly 

 changing as travellers found that various supposed sites of it were quite 

 destitute of all traces of this marvellous king. A letter had appeared some 



