Page:Destruction of the Greek Empire.djvu/460

 414 DESTRUCTION OF THE GEEEK EMPIRE CPAPTEK XX CONCLUSION : THE CAPTUEE EPOCH-MARKING; ALARM IN EUROPE ; DISASTROUS RESULTS; UPON CHRISTIAN SUBJECTS AND ON EASTERN CHURCHES; DEMORALISATION OF BOTH; POVERTY THE PRINCIPAL RESULT; DEGRADATION OF CHURCHES I TWO GREAT SERVICES RENDERED BY THE CHURCHES ; RESULTS ON TURKS : POWERLESS TO ASSIMI- LATE CONQUERED PEOPLES OR THEIR CIVILISATION. The capture of Constantinople marked an epoch in the world's history. The dispersion of its scholars and its treasures of learning leavened Western thought ; the lessons gained from Turkish warfare, from the discipline of the Janissaries and the mobility of the army were learned by European states. These results entitle the event to be regarded as of importance, but another, the conviction, namely, brought home to Europe of the significance of the capture, helps still further to entitle it to be regarded as epoch-marking. The Slavic and Teutonic as well as the Greek and Latin races had been developing for centuries, unchecked by any external influence, in the direction of human progress which we understand by the word ' civili- sation.' From Ireland to Constantinople and even to the banks of the Euphrates all the peoples had accepted Christianity, a religion which had not been substantially changed either in dogma or discipline by any of the various races included in the above area, a religion which had aided them to develop the morality, the habits and customs, the thoughts and ideals, which are comprehended in the modern conception of civilisation. The capture of Constan- tinople was the intrusion into this Christian area of a foreign