HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 53 



Apostolic Fathers, mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans xvi. 14 ; 

 according to others, he was a brother of the lioman bishop Pius, 140 A.D. ; 

 while still another class maintain that he was one of the seventy-three 

 disciples, and bishop of Philippi and Philipopolis. St. Prisca, or Priscilla, 

 is named in the Acts of the Apostles xviii. 2, 18, and 26, and Epist. 

 Romans xvi. o. St. Nerens (St. Keri) was a follower of St. Maria 

 Domitilla, whom he accompanied with St. Achilles, in her exile to Pontus, 

 where both suffered martyrdom through the agency of the proconsul 

 Minutius Rufus, under the emperor Domitian. The day sacred to the 

 memory of both is May 12th. It is supposed they were baptized by the 

 Apostle Peter. 



n. HISTORY^ OF THE MIDDLE AGES (395-1500 A.D.). 



The history of the middle ages usually embraces the period between the 

 fall of the West-Roman empire and the close of the fifteenth century. At 

 the decline of the Roman empire in the west, Europe presented a scene 

 of boundless confusion. Savage conquerors swarmed over the dismem- 

 bered parts of the vast empire, and destroyed, with cruel hands, the 

 admirable works of art, skill, and industry. Out of this chaos of bar- 

 barism new states were destined to arise, and give to order and civilization 

 a new and lasting impetus. 



Religion is the source of all human civilization, and on this element rests 

 the history of the people of the middle ages. Three grand forms of religion 

 prevailed : Christianity, Islamism, and the worship of the Grand Lama. 

 These found their expression in three vast hierarchies, which, though differ- 

 'ing in their respective constitutions, nevertheless furnished strong bonds of 

 union for the scattered nations. The grand theatre for the movement of 

 the middle ages is Europe and Asia. 



At the commencement of this period, the Roman empire appears rent in 

 two divisions : the eastern and western. Through internal and external 

 causes, the former gradually declined, but the latter continued to exist for 

 several centuries, although deprived of its earlier glory. Persia still 

 asserted her power, threatening that of Rome, while from the north, in 

 wild multitudes, poured down the Germans, Sarmatians, and Scythians. 

 About the close of the fourth century, after the Yisigoths and the Yandals 

 had overrun the eastern wing of the empire, and the Huns had scattered 

 their terrors over the plains of Italy, the Herulian Odoaker, and soon after 

 the Ostrogoth Theodoric, appeared in Europe, and led on their armies to 

 decided triumphs. All the provinces of Western Rome, by degrees, became 

 subject to the conquering tribes. The Yandals possessed themselves of 

 Africa ; Spain fell into the hands of the Alans, Suevians, and Yisigoths : 

 - the last, however, also took possession of Gallia ; the Burgundians located 

 along the banks of the Saone ; and the Alemanni upon those of the Upper 

 ^^Tlhine. The Franks obtained Northern and Eastern Gallia, while the Angli 



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