CHAPTER XX.
CENTURIES OF WAR AND WOE.
Convulsions of the Sixth Century.――Corruption of the Church.――The Rise of Monasteries.――Rivalry between Rome and Constantinople. ――Mohammed and his Career.――His Personal Appearance.――His System of Religion.――His Death.――Military Expeditions of the Moslems. ――The Threatened Conquest of Europe.――Capture of Alexandria. ――Burning of the Library.――Rise of the Feudal System. ――Charlemagne.――Barbarian Antagonism to Christianity.