Beacon Lights of History, Volume 03, part 1 | Page 4

AQUINAS.
THE SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY.
Peter Abelard Gives a new impulse to philosophy Rationalistic tendency of his teachings The hatreds he created Peter Lombard His "Book of Sentences" Introduction of the writings of Aristotle into Europe University of Paris Character of the students Their various studies Aristotle's logic used The method of the Schoolmen The Dominicans and Franciscans Innocent III. Thomas Aquinas His early life and studies Albertus Magnus Aquinas's first great work Made Doctor of Theology His "Summa Theologica" Its vast learning Parallel between Aquinas and Plato Parallel between Plato and Aristotle Influence of Scholasticism Waste of intellectual life Scholasticism attractive to the Middle Ages To be admired like a cathedral Authorities
THOMAS BECKET.
PRELATICAL POWER.
Becket a puzzle to historians His early history His gradual elevation Friendship with Henry II. Becket made Chancellor Elevated to the See of Canterbury Dignity of an archbishop of Canterbury Lanfranc Anselm Theobald Becket in contrast His ascetic habits as priest His high-church principles Upholds the spiritual courts Defends the privileges of his order Conflict with the king Constitutions of Clarendon Persecution of Becket He yields at first to the king His repentance Defection of the bishops Becket escapes to the Continent Supported by Louis VII. of France Insincerity of the Pope Becket at Pontigny in exile His indignant rebuke of the Pope Who excommunicates the Archbishop of York Henry obliged to compromise Hollow reconciliation with Becket Return of Becket to Canterbury His triumphal procession Annoyance of Henry Assassination of Becket Consequences of the murder Authorities
THE FEUDAL SYSTEM.
Anarchies of the Merovingian period Society on the dissolution of Charlemagne's empire Allodial tenure Origin of Feudalism Dependence and protection the principles of Feudalism Peasants and their masters The sentiment of loyalty Contentment of the peasantry Evils that cannot be redressed Submission to them a necessity Division of Charlemagne's empire Life of the nobles Pleasures and habits of feudal barons Aristocratic character of Feudalism Slavery of the people Indirect blessings of Feudalism Slavery not an unmixed evil Influence of chivalry Devotion to woman The lady of the baronial castle Reasons why women were worshipped Dignity of the baronial home The Christian woman contrasted with the pagan Glory and beauty of Chivalry Authorities
THE CRUSADES.
The Crusades the great external event of the Middle Ages A semi-religious and semi-military movement What gives interest to wars? Wars the exponents of prevailing ideas The overruling of all wars The majesty of Providence seen in war Origin of the Crusades Pilgrimages to Jerusalem Miseries and insults of the pilgrims Intense hatred of Mohammedanism Peter of Amiens Council of Clermont The First Crusade Its miseries and mistakes The Second Crusade The Third Crusade The Fourth, Children's, Fifth, and Sixth Crusades The Seventh Crusade All alike unsuccessful, and wasteful of life and energies Peculiarities and immense mistakes of the Crusaders The moral evils of the Crusades Ultimate results of the Crusades Barrier made against Mohammedan conquests Political necessity of the Crusades Their effect in weakening the Feudal system Effect of the Crusades on the growth of cities On commerce and art and literature They scatter the germs of a new civilization They centralize power They ultimately elevate the European races Authorities
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM.
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE.
Roman architecture First form of a Christian church The change to the Romanesque Its peculiarities Its connection with Monasticism Gloomy aspect of the churches of the tenth and eleventh centuries Effect of the Crusades on church architecture Church architecture becomes cheerful The Gothic churches of France and Germany The English Mediaeval churches Glories of the pointed arch Effect of the Renaissance on architecture Mongrel style of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries Revival of the pure gothic Churches should be adapted to their uses Incongruity of Protestantism with ritualistic architecture Protestantism demands a church for preaching Gothic vaults unfavorable to oratory Authorities
JOHN WYCLIF.
DAWN OF THE REFORMATION.
Harmony of Protestant and Mediaeval creeds The Reformation a moral movement The evils of Papal institutions The evils of monastic life Quarrels and dissoluteness of monks Birth of Wyclif His scholastic attainments and honors His political influence The powers who have ruled the world Wyclif sent on a mission to Bruges Protection of John of Gaunt Wyclif summoned to an ecclesiastical council His defenders and foes Triumph of Wyclif He openly denounces the Pope His translation of the Bible Opposition to it by the higher clergy Hostility of Roman Catholicism to the right of private judgment Hostility to the Bible in vernacular tongues Spread of the Bible in English Wyclif as a doctrinal reformer He attacks Transubstantiation Deserted by the Duke of Lancaster But dies peaceably in his parish Wyclif contrasted with Luther His great services to the church Reasons why he escaped martyrdom Authorities

MOHAMMED
A. D. 570-632.
SARACENIC CONQUESTS
The most extraordinary man who arose after the fall of the Roman Empire was doubtless Mohammed;* and his posthumous influence has been greater than that of