Moslem Influence on the Renaissance [pp. 365-373]

l884.J Mo~Thm Influence on t~e Renaissance.' 369
French fabliaux, whence we trace them first articles of luxury becoming in time
through the writings of Boccaccio, Chaucer, nece~aries of life. This desire of imitation
Spenser, Shakspere and others, down to was carried so far that St. Louis of France,
Tennyson, and our countryman Longfellow. good Catholic as he was, could not refrain
As the modern novel, which has become from copying the luxury of the race he spent
such a power, not only for amusement, but so much time, energy and treasure to confor philosophical and ethical instruction, is quer and he actually adopted the Oriental
usually traced to Boccaccio, it is but just to fashion of sitting upon rich rugs spread upon
go back a little further and give to the story- the floor; and thus held court, his nobles
tellers of the Moors the credit of introduc- of course assuming a like attitude.
ing into Europe fiction, which has brightened Not least among the influences exerted
so many hours among a people who hither- by contact with the Mohammedans is the
to had been shrouded in the gloom of scho- spread of the spirit of toleration. Begun in
lasticism. fanatical hatred of the Mohammedan people
In the affairs of every-day home life the as well as' of their religion, the Crusades
influence of the despised Moslem was great. ended by filling vast numbers of Christians
This was largely due to the Crusades, which with admiration for the manly valor, the rebrought people of all classes into direct con- finement, and cultivation of the race. "The
tact with Oriental civilization. The influence Crusaders were struck with the riches and
of the Saracenic universities bore directly elegance of manners which they observed
only upon one class-scholars but the Cru- among the Mussulmans. Their first imsades drew a large part of the population of pressions were succeeded by frequent relaEurope to the East, and the influence of Ori- tions between the Mussulmans and Chrisental luxt~ry and refinement was correspond- tians. These became more extensive and
ingly widespread. ~Vhat a wonderful reve- important than is generally believed." 1
lation must it have been to the Christians, Thus was prepared the way for the pursuit
with their coarse clothes seldom or never of humanistic studies, which have done so
changed until worn out, to find a people much for the advancement of modern civilicleanly in person, clothed in pure white, often zation.
changed and washed. Cleanliness in itself Foremost in point of time among these
has a refining influence. And, according to studies was philosophy. The writings of'
Dr. Draper, we are indebted to the Arabs Aristotle, which played so important a part
for many personal comforts in dress~among in later European education, were received
others for the undergarment of linen or c3t- from Spain with the commentaries of Averton, which still passes among ladies under its roes, which work remained authoritative
old Arabic name. The luxurious palaces of in Europe for several centuries. Twice
the Orient, the gay bazars offering for sale in the early part of the thirteenth cenbeautiful jewelry, magnificent rugs, carpets, tury, the provincial council of Paris (the
and dress goods the cities with streets paved center of scholastic teaching) condemned
and artificially lighted at night, with fine and forbade the study of Aristotle. But
open squares and sparkling fountains; the never was it more true that "the heresy of
imposing mosques and rich palaces, opened one age becomes the dogma of the next";
the eyes of the rude invading hosts to the for in this case the next age was quickly
fact that reached, as may be seen from the following
"It is not all of life to live"; facts: The chief work of Thomas Aquinas
and on returning to their western homes, (1224-1274), "Summa Theologi~," "was
they made haste to profit by their experience meant to be the sum of all known learning,
and improve their condition. The change arranged according to the best method and
for the better began among the wealthy, but subordinate to the dictates of the church
gradually affected all classes, what were at 1 Guizot.
VOL. III.-24.