Beacon Lights of History, Volume 03, part 2 | Page 3

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Beacon Lights of History
by John Lord, LL.D.
Volume III.

Part II--Renaissance and Reformation.

CONTENTS.
DANTE.
RISE OF MODERN POETRY.
The antiquity of Poetry The greatness of Poets Their influence on
Civilization The true poet one of the rarest of men The pre-eminence of
Homer, Dante, Shakspeare, and Goethe Characteristics of Dante His
precocity His moral wisdom and great attainments His terrible scorn
and his isolation State of society when Dante was born His banishment
Guelphs and Ghibellines Dante stimulated to his great task by an
absorbing sentiment Beatrice Dante's passion for Beatrice analyzed The
worship of ideal qualities the foundation of lofty love The mystery of

love Its exalted realism Dedication of Dante's life-labors to the departed
Beatrice The Divine Comedy; a study The Inferno; its graphic pictures
Its connection with the ideas of the Middle Ages The physical hell of
Dante in its connection with the Mediaeval doctrine of Retribution The
Purgatorio; its moral wisdom Origin of the doctrine of Purgatory Its
consolation amid the speculations of despair The Paradiso Its
discussion of grand themes The Divina Commedia makes an epoch in
civilization Dante's life an epic His exalted character His posthumous
influence

GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
ENGLISH LIFE IN THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.
The characteristics of the fourteenth century Its great events and
characters State of society in England when Chaucer arose His early
life His intimacy with John of Gaunt, the great Duke of Lancaster His
prosperity His poetry The Canterbury Tales Their fidelity to Nature and
to English life Connection of his poetry with the formation of the
English Language The Pilgrims of the Canterbury Tales Chaucer's
views of women and of love His description of popular sports and
amusements The preponderance of country life in the fourteenth
century Chaucer's description of popular superstitions Of ecclesiastical
abuses His emancipation from the ideas of the Middle Ages
Peculiarities of his poetry Chaucer's private life The respect in which
he was held Influence of his poetry

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS.
MARITIME DISCOVERIES.
Marco Polo His travels The geographical problems of the fourteenth
century Sought to be solved by Christopher Columbus The difficulties
he had to encounter Regarded as a visionary man His persistence
Influence of women in great enterprises Columbus introduced to Queen
Isabella Excuses for his opponents The Queen favors his projects The
first voyage of Columbus Its dangers Discovery of the Bahama Islands
Discovery of Cuba and Hispaniola Columbus returns to Spain The
excitement and enthusiasm produced by his discoveries His second
voyage Extravagant expectations of Columbus Disasters of the

colonists Decline of the popularity of Columbus His third voyage His
arrest and disgrace His fourth voyage His death Greatness of his
services Results of his discoveries Colonization The mines of Peru and
Mexico The effects on Europe of the rapid increase of the precious
metals True sources of national wealth The destinies of America Its
true mission

SAVONAROLA.
UNSUCCESSFUL REFORMS.
The age of Savonarola Revival of Classic Literature Ecclesiastical
corruptions Religious apathy; awakened intelligence; infidel spirit
Youth of Savonarola His piety Begins to preach His success at
Florence Peculiarities of his eloquence Death of Lorenzo de Medici
Savonarola as a political leader Denunciation of tyranny His influence
in giving a constitution to the Florentines Difficulties of
Constitution-making His method of teaching political science
Peculiarities of the new Rule Its great wisdom Savonarola as reformer
As moralist Terrible denunciation of sin in high places A prophet of
woe Contrast between Savonarola and Luther The sermons of
Savonarola His marvellous eloquence Its peculiarities The enemies of
Savonarola Savonarola persecuted His appeal to Europe The people
desert him Months of torment His martyrdom His character His
posthumous influence

MICHAEL ANGELO.
THE REVIVAL OF ART.
Michael Angelo as representative of reviving Art Ennobling effects of
Art when inspired by lofty sentiments Brilliancy of Art in the sixteenth
century Early life of Michael Angelo His aptitude for Art Patronized by
Lorenzo de Medici Sculpture later in its development