85 
THE RENAISSANCE. 
(Illustrated by the Lantern). 
By Mr. C. A. HOYLE. November 9th, 1909. 
The re-birth or re-awakening of Europe from the long sleep 
of the Dark Ages is a subject of great importance, for the 
extent of its far-reaching influence, its temporal manifestations, 
and its permanent results can hardly be comprehended. 
When the Renaissance began cannot definitely be stated, 
for it gradually spread from mind to mind, and from nation 
to nation, until the whole of Europe was affected, and the 
history of that continent from so remote a period as 500 B.C. 
must be reviewed in order to obtain an idea of its gradual 
progress. “ The Glory that was Greece,” the subsequent 
conquest by the Romans, followed in the course of centuries 
by the ravages of the Goths, Vandals and Huns, resulted 
at length in the establishment of the system known as feu- 
dalism. Europe became Christianised and various monastic 
orders were founded. All through the Dark Ages the Church 
was the chief civilizer arid educator of the people and in 
time became the wealthiest and most powerful force in Europe. 
In the seventh century, however, Mohammedanism arose in 
Arabia, and threatened Europe and Christianity with des- 
truction. It conquered Western Asia, Northern Africa, and 
the south of Spain, and after centuries of warfare the Christians, 
to win back Jerusalem, fought the Crusades, but failed, 
and the Turk holds the Holy City to this day. The Crusades 
were instrumental, however, in keeping back the Turks until 
Europe had been consolidated into nations. Finally, after 
many years of fighting, the Turks captured Greece, in 1413, 
arid Constantinople in 1453. This latter date forms a con- 
venient starting point from which to study the Renaissance 
proper, the Middle Ages having resulted in feudalism in 
government, monasticism in religion, and Gothicism in 
architecture. 
