PART I.

Introduction--Decline of Literature in the latter Period of the Roman Empire--Its Causes--Corruption of the Latin Language--Means by which it was effected--Formation of new Languages--General Ignorance of the Dark Ages--Scarcity of Books--Causes that prevented the total Extinction of Learning--Prevalence of Superstition and Fanaticism--General Corruption of Religion--Monasteries--their Effects--Pilgrimages--Love of Field Sports--State of Agriculture--of Internal and Foreign Trade down to the end of the Eleventh Century--Improvement of Europe dated from that Age. 268