CONTENTS.

BOOK I.

VIEW OF THE DECLINE OF LITERATURE AND THE ARTS,

FROM THE CLOSE OF THE REIGN OF AUGUSTUS, TO THE

FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE, IN 476.

Sketch of the state of letters in the Augustan age-The causes of their

rise briefly examined-First period of their decline-Second period-

Third period-Decline of eloquence of poetry-of history-of philo

sophy, &c.-The state of the libraries—Decline of the polite arts- The

state of literature in Italy and in the distant provinces-The causes of

the decline of literature and the arts-Was literature affected by the

establishment of Christianity?—The state of Grecian literature during

the same period -

p. 1

BOOK II.

VIEW

OF THE

FALLEN

STATE OF LITERATURE AND THE

ARTS, FROM THE FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE, IN

476, TO THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF CHARLE-

MAGNE, IN 774.

Settlements of the barbarous nations-in Italy-in Spain-in Gaul-in

Africa-in Germany-in Britain-the Huns-Reflections on the cha-

racter of the Goths-General outline of the times-State of learning in

Italy during the Gothic reign-Disastrous state of Italy-Reign of the

Lombards-State of learning-The end of the Lombard government-

French writers-Spanish writers-Germany-The state of England—

Bede-The works principally read in the schools

p. 61

BOOK III.

STATE OF LEARNING FROM THE REIGN OF CHARLEMAGNE,

A.D. 774, TO THE END OF THE TENTH CENTURY.

Dispositions of Charlemagne in regard to letters-Flattering prospect at

the opening of the ninth century-Why no success followed-The last

years of Charlemagne-Alcuin, Paul Warnefrid and Eginhard—The

successors of Charlemagne-State of learning in Rome, and in other

parts of the empire-General licentiousness-Conversion of barbarous

nations-Rabanus Maurus-John Erigena-The use of theological

controversies-Alfred-Flattering statement of Muratori-Ireland-The

tenth century: a general view-The monks not assiduously employed—

The reigns of the Othos- - Literature of England - St. Dunstan-

Gerbert, afterwards Sylvester II.

-

BOOK IV.

p. 100

STATE OF LEARNING AND THE ARTS IN THE ELEVENTH

AND TWELFTH CENTURIES.

The eleventh century-The Roman church: Leo IX.-The Norman settlers

in Italy-Its language affected by them-Gregory VII.-The fictitious

donation of Constantine-No change in the state of learning-Peter

Damianus-The character of the poets and historians-Bologna

and Salerno-State of France-The Normans: their character-

Lanfranc-Political state of England - The Norman Conquest-

Ingulph, abbot of Croyland-Anselm-Eadmer: his credulity, and that

of the age-The Crusades-Twelfth century-Increased intercourse

with Rome: its effects-New monastic orders-St. Bernard-Scholas-

ticism introduced-Peter Abailard-Peter the Lombard-England-

Oxford-Cambridge-English historians-John of Salisbury-Peter de

Blois-Architecture and other arts

p. 145

BOOK V.

STATE OF LEARNING IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.

Thirteenth century-Formation of modern languages-The romane or

romance language-Trouveurs and troubadours-The state of other

countries-Italy-Conduct of the Roman bishops-Universities-Other

crusades And other monastic institutions-Divines and philosophers :

Thomas Aquinas-St. Bonaventure-Albertus Magnus-Roger Bacon-

Robert Grosteste-The various fortunes of Aristotle-Historians-

Italian - Matthew Paris - Poetry - Saxon and English language-

Its poetry-Latin poetry- Introduction of rhymes - Grammar and

rhetoric

-

p. 224

BOOK VI.

STATE OF LEARNING FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE FOUR-

TEENTH CENTURY, TO THE INVENTION OF THE ART OF

PRINTING, ABOUT THE YEAR 1450.

The Fourteenth century-The poet Dante-State of Italy-Petrarca-His

researches after the works of the ancients-Character of his writings-

Boccaccio-Coluccio Salutato-The learning of other countries-Duns

Scotus-John Wickliff-Geoffrey Chaucer-His acquirements compared

with those of others, and his success with that of Petrarca and Boc-

caccio-French literature-Froissard-Spanish and German: why sta-

tionary-Fifteenth century-General view of Italy-Council of Constance

-Martin V.-Councils of Basil and Florence-Nicholas V.-The en-

thusiasm of many Italians in quest of Latin authors-Progress of the

Greek language-Cardinal Bessarion-Various professors-Greek works

-Gianozzi Manetti-Cultivated state of the Latin language-State of

other countries - Oxford and Cambridge - Antiquarian researches-

What obstacles still remained-The art of printing discovered - p. 227

APPENDIX.—No. I.

ON THE LEARNING OF THE GREEKS, FROM THE SIXTH CEN-

TURY, TO THE FALL OF THE EASTERN EMPIRE, IN 1453.

Sixth century-The reign of Justinian-The effects of theological contro-

versies-Tribonian and Procopius, &c.—The learning of Justinian-His

taste for building-Saint Sophia-The Seventh Century-State of things

under Heraclius-A new controversy-Few writers of any note-Eighth

century-Iconoclasm-Low state of learning-St. John Damascene-

The ninth century more auspicious to learning-The Patriarch Nice-

phorus-Attempts of Michael the Stammerer-Bardas favours the cause

of letters-Photius-His principal works-The Emperors Basil and Leo

A

-Tenth century-Constantine Porphyrogenitus-Simeon Metaphrastes

-Suidas-The embassy of Liutprand-Eleventh century-State of the

empire-Michael Psellus-Alexius Comnenus-The first crusade-

Twelfth century-John Comnenus-John Zonaras-Nicephorus Bryen-

nius-Anna Comnena-Manuel Comnenus-Second crusade-Manuel

fond of controversy-Eustathius, the commentator of Homer-Athenæus

-John Tzetzes-The closing events of the century-Thirteenth cen-

tury-Constantinople taken by the Latins-Monuments of art destroyed

-The effects of the capture on learning-Good conduct of the expelled

princes-Nicetas and other writers-State of the Greek empire after its

restoration-Fourteenth century-Literary character of Andronicus—

Theodorus Metochita-John Cantacuzenus-Nicephorus Gregorus-A

curious controversy-Progress of the Turks-Greek anthologies-

Fifteenth century-The question of union between the churches-

Council of Ferrara and Florence-The Greeks return from Florence-

Fall of the Eastern empire-Its three last historians-State of the Greek

language

p. 348

APPENDIX.-No. II.

ON THE ARABIAN OR SARACENIC LEARNING.

General view-The Saracens establish themselves in Africa and Spain-

They encourage letters-Their grammar-Eloquence-Poetry-Philo-

logy-Lexicographers-Philosophy-Ethics and asceticism-Medicine

-Natural history-Mathematics-Geography-History-The fall of

Granada, the last Moorish settlement-And of the caliphate-The three

Arabian historians-Conclusion -

p. 412

LITERARY HISTORY

OF

THE MIDDLE AGES.

BOOK I.

VIEW OF THE DECLINE OF LITERATURE AND THE ARTS, FROM THE CLOSE OF THE REIGN OF AUGUSTUS, TO THE FALL OF THE WESTERN EMPIRE, IN 476.

Sketch of the state of letters in the Augustan age-The causes of their rise briefly examined-First period of their decline-Second periodThird period-Decline of eloquence-Of poetry-Of history-Of philo sophy, &c.-The state of the libraries-Decline of the polite arts-The state of literature in Italy and in the distant provinces-The causes of the decline of literature and the arts-Was literature affected by the establishment of Christianity?—The state of Grecian literature during the same period.

THE subject which I have proposed to treat in the present work is so extensive in itself, that I am unwilling to increase its bulk with any matter which is foreign to my purpose, or not essentially incorporated in the plan which I have attempted to execute. I shall not therefore delineate the golden period of Roman literature, from the fall of Carthage to the death of Augustus, comprising an era of a little more than a hundred and fifty years. After the conquest of Greece, the military genius of the Romans became tempered by something of a literary spirit; and the arts and sciences, which hitherto had languished in neglect, or been rejected with scorn, began to be cherished with fondness and cultivated with assiduity. The new ardour which was excited soon

became manifest in the blaze of intellectual excellence which

B