88 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



shed. The nobility generally devoted themselves to vt^arfare, hunting, 

 and chivalrous exploits, and continued to form the standing army of their 

 feudal lord and master. 



When gunpowder v^^as invented, and its terrible explosive power had 

 indicated it as an instrument of warfare (1354), the nobility preferred to 

 contribute by money towards the pay of mercenaries to engaging in war 

 themselves. Thus standing armies of paid and disciplined men, mostly 

 foot-soldiers, were formed, though they retained for a long while the spear, 

 bow, arrow, and crossbow, as their chief arms. 



Just as gunpowder efiected a revolution in the art of warfare, so the 

 invention of the art of printing brought about a great change in litera- 

 tm-e, 1440. 



Chivalry. Oedee of Knighthood. 



Among the Germans, as among nations generally, the army consisted 

 mainly of infantry ; a small portion were horsemen. The latter wore a 

 cumbrous armor. A weighty helmet pressed the head, the body was 

 invested in a powerful coat of mail, metallic greaves protected the arms 

 and legs, while the weapons consisted of the ponderous lance and sword. 



As such an equipment involved a large expenditure, none but the noble 

 and wealthy could afford to wear it, so that this branch of the service soon 

 won great consideration. The nobility stood apart from all the other 

 orders of society, who served only on foot. With the view of main- 

 taining their distinguished position, the nobility devoted their lives almost 

 entirely to exercises calculated to increase the physical powers, render the 

 body superior to the effects of fatigue, and thus to make themselves superior 

 w^arriors, whilst little or nothing was done for the cultivation of the mind. 

 In early boyhood the nobles learned to curb a steed and to manage lance 

 and sword. Before the invention of gunpowder, activity and strength 

 alone could decide a contest. The knights, clad in armor from head to 

 foot, and trained to combat from early youth, had naturally great advan- 

 tages over all other combatants. They were regarded as the pride and flower 

 of an army, its efficiency being in general proportionate to their numbers ; 

 and from their service, which was always performed on horseback, they 

 received the name of chevalier. 



We find the mention of knights as early as the time of Charlemagne ; 

 nay, Tacitus adverts to a similar order among the ancient Germans. It is 

 only in the eleventh century, however, that we meet with the knight as vassal, 

 performing the duties imposed upon him by feudal law, either alone or accom- 

 panied by his men. In his seventh year the boy was committed to the care 

 of a male teacher. Very frequently he was placed in the castle of some 

 other knight, where he was taught the rudiments of chivalry by serving his 

 master in the capacity of page, and by respectful intercourse with noble 

 ladies. He attended his lord or lady in the chase, on journeys, during a 

 lide, or on a visit. He carried their messages for them, waited at table, 

 260 



