Page:Outlines of European History.djvu/658

 S6o Outlmes of Europemi History Rubens (1577-1640) and Rem- brandt (1607-1669) Van Dyck (1599-1641) and his portraits Velasquez Younger ^ in Germany vied with even Raphael and Michael Angelo in the mastery of their art. Diirer is especially cele- brated for his wonderful woodcuts and copperplate engravings, in which field he has perhaps never been excelled.^ When, in the seventeenth centur}', painting had declined south of the Alps, Dutch and Flemish masters — above all, Rubens and Rembrandt — developed a new and admirable school of painting. To Van Dyck, another Flemish master, we owe m.any noble portraits of historically important persons.^ Spain gave to the world in the seventeenth century a painter whom some would rank higher than even the greatest artists of Italy, namely, Velasquez (i 599-1 660). His genius, like that of Van Dyck, is especially conspicuous in his marvelous portraits. QUESTIONS Section 92. Why was Latin used by learned men, churchmen, scholars, and lawyers in the Middle Ages .? What is the origin of the Germanic languages ? of the Romance tongues ? When does English become sufficiently modern for us to read it easily without special study ? What is the character of the French romances of the Middle Ages? Section 93. Who were the troubadours.'' Describe chivalry and the ideal knight. Section 94. Why did people know little of history in the Middle Ages? Give some examples of the beliefs in regard to the habits of animals and the existence of strange races of men. What value was supposed to come from studying the habits of animals? Define astrology. What words do we use that recall the beliefs of the Middle Ages in regard to the influence of the stars on man ? What was alchemy ? Section 95. Who was Abelard? What was a "university" originally? Mention some early universities. What was the origin of our degrees? What subjects were studied in a medieval univer- sity? Why was Aristotle so venerated by the medieval scholars? What was scholasticism ? How and when were Greek books again brought into western Europe ? Who were the Humanists ? Why did not the Humanists make any discoveries ? 1 See below, Fig. 209. 2 gee below, Fig. 211. 3 See below, Figs. 226 and 227.